Eight tons of trash cleaned up and nearly 800 street signs and 230 street lamps fixed

Farmingville, NY – On November 3, 2011, Supervisor Mark Lesko and the Town Council members announced the completion of Operation Clean Sweep, which kicked off in April 2011 and successfully beautified the communities of Selden, Rocky Point, Mastic, Medford, Port Jefferson Station, and Farmingville.

The Town’s Quality of Life Task Force spearheaded Operation Clean Sweep. Over the course of several months, the Task Force aggressively focused on targeted neighborhoods and removed tons of litter, replaced and repaired street signs and street lamps, worked with property owners to bring properties up to code, trimmed trees, and swept streets.

The community make-over program resulted in the removal of eight tons of trash, 800 street signs and 230 street lamps repaired or replaced, re-striping of cross walks, cleaning of catch-basins sweeping of hundreds of streets, trimming of trees, and hundreds of properties being brought up to code. Notices were issued to residents for a wide range of violations, including unregistered vehicles, litter, parking on the front lawns and boats in the front yard. Appearance tickets were issued to violators for non-compliance and for illegal multi-family houses. Many residents have cooperated with the Town to correct the violations and come into compliance with Town code.

“I applaud the Quality of Life Task Force – especially the law investigators and employees in the Department of Waste Management and Streetlighting Division – for their dedicated work to give the entire Town a facelift. We have really made a difference in improving the Quality of Life in communities in every corner of Brookhaven Town,” said Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko.

Deputy Supervisor / Councilwoman Kathleen Walsh said, “Operation Clean Sweep was a joint effort by a number of Town Departments and it made a real difference in the targeted neighborhoods. In Selden, the streets were swept, road signs were replaced, street lights were fixed and the neighbors were very pleased with the results.”

“Operation Clean sweep was a great success in Rocky Point and all throughout Brookhaven,” said Councilwoman Jane Bonner. “I thank our Town employees for the work they did to improve the quality of life in the community and to make it safer for everyone.”

Councilwoman Connie Kepert said, "During Operation Clean Sweep in Farmingville, we were able to take care of many issues that have been a detriment to community for quite a while. I thank the Quality of Life Task Force for their efforts to clean up our Town one neighborhood at a time.”

"Providing clean safe neighborhoods is one of the most basic functions of Town government," commented Councilman Dan Panico. "I was pleased to join with all of my colleagues during this Clean Sweep operation to highlight the good work of our employees in making a targeted difference in our communities."

“I thank our Quality of Life Task Force for making such a positive impact on the lives of so many of our residents,” said Councilman Tim Mazzei, “Operation Clean Sweep was a big success and though the results in Medford were outstanding, this initiative stands as only a first step in a long line of progressive actions I am currently taking in order to beautify the communities throughout my entire councilmanic district."

Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld said, "Operation Clean Sweep sends a clear message to our communities that the Town is serious in its goal to clean up our neighborhoods. Our Quality of Life Task Force was created to enforce our town codes more efficiently and I have been hearing from civic leaders that it is working.”

Supervisor Lesko established the Quality of Life Task Force in 2009 to aggressively enforce the Town code, eliminate blight in neighborhoods, shutdown suburban slumlords, and prosecute serial offenders. Between 2008 and 2010, fines levied on code enforcement violations increased by 255%. Fines are levied through tickets issued to property owners with properties that have seriously unsafe or hazardous conditions.

In addition, at the request of Supervisor Lesko and the Town Board, the New York State Office of Court Administration established the Brookhaven Community Court in 2010. It is a special court that is part of the Sixth District Court in Patchogue dedicated to handling proceedings alleging violations of Brookhaven town ordinances and affecting the quality of life of local residents.

The specific results of Operation Clean Sweep in each community are:

Selden

• Replaced 44 street signs
• Swept over 40 streets
• Fixed over 40 street lamps
• Cleaned all catch basins in the area
• Removed over 1,200 pounds of trash
• Issued 78 code violations

• Replaced 121 street signs
• Fixed 17 street lamps
• Upgraded 84 streetlights with energy efficient lights
• Re-striped nine crosswalks and created one new crosswalk
• Removed one ton of trash

• Repaired or replaced 259 street signs
• Repaired 34 streetlights
• Trimmed 49 trees
• Removed 1 ton of trash
• 100 notices issued

• Swept all streets
• Replaced 137 street signs
• Repaired or replaced 66 streetlights
• Removed over 1 ton of trash
• 35 notices issued

• Replaced or repaired 108 street signs
• Replaced or repaired 35 streetlights
• Trimmed 15 trees
• Removed nearly 2 tons of trash
• 58 notices issued

• Swept all streets
• Replaced 129 street signs
• Repaired or replaced 38 streetlights
• Trimmed 19 trees
• Removed 2.5 tons of trash
• 40 notices issued

Division of Public Information * Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6595 • Fax (631) 451-6258