1969-07-31

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FARilNCDAiB PUBLIC LIBRARY
274 MAIN ST,
FARMINGDALE, N. Y « 11735
An Official Newspaper of The Incorporated Village of Farmlngdale- Servtng Greater Farmingdale, Bethpage and Melville
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Vol. 6 No. 48 Second Class Postage has been paid at rarmiagdale, N. Y. 117* 5 Thursday, July 31, 1969
TOWN PASSES SWIMMING
POOL ORDINANCE The Oyster Bay Town Board, by a 7- 0 vote, has passed an ordinance
calling for safety measures for above- ground, outdoor swimming
pools. Approximately 75 residents attended a public hearing on
Tuesday in support of the ordinance proposal and the Board
responded with immediate action later in the day.
Councilman Ralph Diamond, who worked with Town Attorney
Bernard F. McCaffrey in drawing the new ordinance, expressed a
sigh of relief when his fellow board members unanimously approved
it.
" If this ordinance will help prevent the drowning of a pool- owner's
child or that of his neighbor, it is well worth the research and effort
that went into it," Diamond said.
Diamond was also delighted that so many people showed up to urge
approval of this measure. Many of the supporters carried signs and
placards stating that " Water Can Kill" and " Pass The Pool
Ordinance Now."
The sales of the above- ground, portable type of swimming pools
have skyrocketed in the past few years and, while the number of
deaths had increased only slightly in comparison, the danger for
tragedy was inherent, according to Diamond.
Diamond said that statistics for past drownings indicated that a
swimming pool is an attraction to an infant, particularly those under
age five, and therefore safety measures had to be taken now to help
prevent the ever- increasing possibility of death by drowning in the
future. Diamond said there were approximately 75,000 portable pools
in Long Island backyards and that number was increasing by 8,000 a
year.
Diamond said a constant argument used against an ordinance of
this type is that there is a small percentage of such drownings
compared to the number of pools in use. " But," Diamond said, " I
wish to point out the feeling of this Board is that if even one child
drowns, the loss is 100 per cent.
The ordinance covers those structures retaining water to a greater
depth than 18 inches and having a larger plane surface area than 100
square feet. Permits will still be required for all below- ground
swimming pools regardless of size.
Under the ordinance, fencing shali be at least two feet distant from
the pool and at least four feet in height from the ground and no more
than one inch from the ground at the bottom. All gates or doors must
be equipped with a self- closing, self- latching device located on the
inside of the gate or door. Fencing will not be required, however, if the
side of an above- ground pool is at least four feet in height from grade
and of such a construction that the sides are smooth and
perpendicular to the ground with no appurtenances for hand of foot
holds.
The ordinance also calls for pool owners to drain above- ground
pools in such a manner that water is not permitted to flow onto
adjacent land or, in the case of pools with 5,000 gallons capacity, onto
an abutting street. Permits will be required for above- ground pools of
5,000 gallon capacity.
All swimming pools on the premises on the effective date of this
ordinance shall comply with all of its terms within 60 days after
passage.
MR AND MRS. CONTEST: Oyster Bay Town CouncilinunFrank
J. Hynes congratulates the winners of the " Little Mr. and Mrs.
Community Park" contest held by the Town of Oyster Hay Depart­ment
<>! Recreation and Community Activities at Bethpage Com­munity
Park. The young man dressed as a spaceman, Jimmy
Maiming, age r>. won in the Boy's category and Susan Reed, ( stan­ding
left I age 4, captured first prize among the Girl's as Miss Moon
Flag. The runners up are Ilene Selienker, age 5, and Joe Bonsignoro,
age T), who eame as Uncle Sam.
Cadet Frederic M. Magner ( right) of 54 Hill Koad, Farmingdale
was presented with the Air Force ROTC Vice Commandant's award,
presented to the most outstanding cadet of each encampment hy
Colonel Robert Sullivan at the IVase Air Force Base, New Hamp­shire.
Maguer is a student at the University of South Carolina where he is
enrolled in International Studies He attained academic honors by
achieving Honor Roll status in both his Freshman and Sophomore
years lie is a member <> f the Student Senate. His mother is Mrs
Norman Krasnow.