On at least one issue, the people's voice means nothing to Huntington Town Councilman .
When voting on whether to schedule a public hearing next month to a Town Code amendment regarding property maintenance nuisances, specifically a proposal to regulate the excessive growth of bamboo, Cuthbertson said his mind is already made up.
"I have concerns with the motion that we are going to regulate the bamboo," said Cuthbertson, at a meeting at Monday. "I don't know what would be next, poison ivy?"
Governement regulation works in some cases, but not with bamboo regulation in Huntington, according to Cuthbertson.
"I just think this trying to regulate the growth of bamboo is not the place where Town Board members should go," said Cuthbertson.
Town Councilman Eugene Cook reminded Cuthbertson that Monday's vote was simply to give residents a chance to voice opinion on the bamboo issue before a final vote is taken.
"This is to schedule a public hearing not to decide on the bamboo," said Cook.
Cuthbertson said he's already decided.
"I just want to be very clear that I don't support regulating it at the end of the day," said Cuthbertson.
"Isn't it our job to listen to everyone and hear what they have to say?" said Cook. "I think it's very important."
"The fact is councilman, there are some decisions that I can make right away and I know that I am not going to vote to regulate bamboo," said Cuthbertson.
"Fair enough," said Cook.
By a 4-1 vote, a March 13 public Town Hall hearing on possible bamboo regulation was approved Monday.
Second of all, it still passed 4-1 and will be heard so everyone learn to read please. I find it funny that important fact was slipped in at the end. It's like reading Newsday when they want to make someone look foolish. Listen, you can't be an expert on everything, so someone send Cuthbertson some info he can read and I'm sure he will see the light or at least acknowledge the importance/seriousness of the situation.
I agree Banboo sucks - it grows everywere - a former neighbor had it. I went over and talked to them and we came up with a solution - may i suggest you do the same. Otherwise if this does become a code enforcement issue- i will send in my application to the TOH to be the official Bamboo inspector for the town - sounds like cushy gig
There is a "Concerned Citizen" alias that posted on this story that is not me!!!! I am the Concerned Citizen that usually posts.
In regards to this subject at hand, I understand how bamboo can be an annoying problem. So can termites, rats, train whistles, poison ivy, mean people, those who wear white after Labor Day, the Patch allowing more than one blogger with the same name, Tom Brady's girlfriend, all of the stores closing in Huntington, pot holes, etc... I object to implementing a LAW or debating a LAW to fix every problem. We have enough codes in Huntington, we do not need another. Heck, we can't even enforce half of the codes as it relates to some of the "apartments" in the area. I do not need to visit some of your homes to understand that bamboo is a quality of life issue for some of you... this is not the reason to impose more laws. The same person who wants the law will complain when they cannot get a permit for a new porch because they have bamboo, the same people will complain when they cannot sell there home because of non-conforming foliage, and all of us will be taxed more to implement bamboo inspectors and to hire people to remove bamboo from public land.
destruction of uncontrolled bamboo. Agreed there are many other issues to be worked on. I believe the SCPD earns alot to deal with the shootings. As for paying huge taxes, I believe we deserve to have use of our backyards without paying for bulldozers because the neighbor decided to not put in the barriers. Its unfortunate we are at that point in society. Its unfortunate we need to make laws for people to respect their neighbors. Society is changing and respect for each other or lack of, is forcing these codes to be dealt with. I agree it's unfortunate but for alot of us, it is necessary as there are no other options. If it doesn't effect you be grateful.
Do you think that government should only operate on the basis of serial processing, instead of parallel processing? Yes, there are vital issues of health and safety, but the town can wok on those AND protect the property interests of residents of Huntington. Cutherbertson is simply being his obnoxious self. As they say, a leopard can never change its sports.
there's the rub. AND. As they are not. People are dying and they are concerned about scheduling or not scheduling public commentary for a plant.
As for the bamboo issue, I wish those of us who are dealing with this invasive "grass", yes, bamboo is indeed classified as a grass, could meet and share ideas of ways in which to deal with and eradicate it.
They seem to think "it isn't my problem, and besides my problem(s) is(are) more important, so who cares." Government can deal with more than one issue at a time, and it should deal with more than one issue at a time. I won't accept less. For some of you folks, the concept of perfect -- the satisfaction of one issue to the exclusion of others -- has become the enemy of the good. This is a matter of arrogance, on the part of one out of five members of the Town Board. It's no more complicated than that.
Anyway, the problem is not that we have too much bamboo, the problem is that we have too few pandas. I'm outa here.