POLAND Residents ask officials for support

The residents want more police presence.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- Several dozen township residents met with police, zoning and other officials to address a list of issues they say are destroying their neighborhood.
The Bel-Aire Avenue/Clyde Street neighborhood is made up of streets that form a semi-circle with a cul-de-sac. Neighbors say the homes are well maintained and occupied by many residents who have spent decades in the neighborhood.
Neighbors say, however, there is a growing population of younger people in the area who are causing more trouble than most residents are willing to put up with.
Residents informed officials Wednesday that cars are speeding along the streets, stopping long enough to spin the tires and leave black skid marks in the road. The speed limit on the streets is 25 mph.
Residents say there has also been vandalism, unruly juveniles and noise. One man said his home has been burglarized by a juvenile who was caught and prosecuted for the crime.
Another resident, Trisha Collins, said she is sometimes afraid to walk her small dog or stay in her front yard because she has been approached by larger dogs that break loose in the neighborhood.
Response
Police Chief Carl Massullo said residents in the area have to start calling the police department immediately when any incident takes place. He said police will come up with a plan to address the issues and place additional patrols in the area in the meantime.
"We will analyze the complaints and issues raised, meet with our patrol supervisors and devise a course of action to address their concerns to the best of our ability," he said.
Some of the residents suggested a township curfew for juveniles, but Trustee Mark Naples said that would not be the answer. He said most of the complaints are about adults.
"The trustees in the past have not been interested in curfews. There are enough laws on the books to address those issues" of juvenile crime, he said. "The parents should be responsible for telling these kids what to do."
Residents also brought up several zoning concerns. They say some residents are chaining dogs in their front yards, parking cars on the lawn and leaving lawn furniture in the front yard. Zoning inspector Bob Monus said he has issued 60 zoning citations in the area over the last five years for a variety of violations.
jgoodwin@vindy.com