Politics & Government

Bamboo Decision Befuddles Town Hall

Town Board votes to extend decision time on proposed bamboo regulations.

Seemingly as tough to vote on as it is to eradicate, the bamboo issue has stymied Town Hall.

The Huntington Town Council on Tuesday voted to extend by 90 days the final vote on a proposed local law to regulate bamboo usage — after pulling the item last month from the agenda.

By a 4-1 decision, the board extended the deadline to Sept. 9.

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Town Councilman Mark Cuthbertson, who has opposed the bamboo regulation resolution  in February, again voted against.

With the resolution heading for probable defeat in April, the item was pulled from the agenda by Councilwoman Susan Berland, the sponsor of the legislation.

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"I will give my colleagues the opportunity to talk with me as they said they would," Berland said at the April meeting.

Apparently, even more time is needed on the bamboo issue which has attracted passionate arguments from both sides since early in the year.

If approved, the local law could make it illegal for Huntington property owners and tenants to allow bamboo to migrate onto adjourning properties. Fines have been proposed from $300 to $5,000 for second and third offenses, according to the original resolution.

One resident in favor of the regulation  chamber in tears in April in frustration. "You don't know what I've been through," said a distraught female. "My town has let me down tremendously."

 it could be difficult for the town to determine the origin of bamboo that was planted many years ago. Some say if passed, the resolution could lead to further regulation of other plants.

"Today it's going to be bamboo, tomorrow it's going to be something else," said Robert Lifson of Huntington at a public hearing in March.


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