By Kathianne Boniello
Tired of hearing complaints about the smelly garbage strewn around Bell Boulevard, the Bayside Business Association stepped up to the plate last week by hiring a cleaning company to tackle the area’s sanitation problems.
That is, until their money runs out.
The Bayside Business Association, or BBA, has hired Atlantic Maintenance, a private company, to clean Bell Boulevard between Northern Boulevard and 35th Avenue five days a week.
The service, which includes one worker from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., costs $30,000 a year, the BBA said in a news release. The service began last week and the cleaning was to be carried out Friday through Monday plus Wednesday.
“The business association will pay for the service as long as possible,” the group said in its news release. “After that time, they may require the help of the merchants, elected officials, etc. to continue the service.”
BBA President Judy Limpert said the city’s reinstatement of the 18-inch rule — a law that requires property owners to keep the sidewalks and an 18-inch section of the street in front of their stores or homes clean —prompted the group to start the service now.
In the past the 18-inch rule inspired fears of fines from city inspectors who would penalize businesses for garbage beyond their control.
“We thought we’d be helping everyone out,” said Limpert. “It’s nice when you can do something good.”
Limpert acknowledged the group would eventually need help paying for the service and said she hoped people would be willing to chip in over time.
“We’re going a little bit on faith here,” she said.
Frank Skala, a Bayside civic leader and frequent critic of the business association’s renovation plans, said the cleaning effort had not improved Bell Boulevard.
“I think it is no different than it was before,” he said.
Over the past five months a BBA proposed renovation of Bell Boulevard, which includes a business improvement district, or BID, to clean and maintain the area along the boulevard between Northern Boulevard and 35th Avenue, has met with some controversy.
The group’s plans have been criticized by civic leaders as ignoring the input of residents as well as the southern end of Bell Boulevard.
Any BID, which raises taxes to provide services and maintenance for a specific community, requires the approval of area property owners.
Limpert said there has been no final word on a recent feasibility study for the BID.
When originally planning for sanitation services for the boulevard, Limpert said the BBA had wanted to work with the DOE Fund, a group which helps get jobs for the homeless. Limpert said the group could not provide month-to-month service.
“Atlantic Maintenance came highly recommended,” said Limpert, who said the group works with BIDS throughout the city. “They’re supposed to make the area pristine — it’s been very good.”
Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 146.
