wrestling with a stop sign issue and disagreement among residents about where it should be placed. Several residents attended the regular board meeting Sept. 23 presenting their sides.

New Stop sign on Little East Neck Road in Babylon Village has started some controversy. Lynn Smith, who lives at 120 Little East Neck Road South, said that the Village's decision to put a stop sign in front of her home was ill conceived. She asked that the Village reconsider its placement for issues of safety and quality of life.

"When we have to enter and exit our driveway, which is many times a day, it is very dangerous," she told the board. "There is a slight bend in the road before our house and it makes

(the stop sign) less visible."

Mayor Ralph Scordino explained that the location of the stop sign was determined following a traffic study by the Village's Engineers, Savik and Murray, and that a review of the situation confirmed that it was the best location.

"Stop signs are difficult to deal with and putting them in certain areas presents positives and negatives," said Scordino. "This is one of those times and one of those locations."

Another resident of the area, Werner Zumbrum, told the board that there had been extensive discussion between the board and the residents about where to place the stop sign and that it had been agreed upon, following the engineers' report, that the location chosen was the best. Many residents had requested a stop sign in the area because of the amount of traffic and speeding along that roadway.

The Mayor added that stop signs must be installed according to specific guidelines set down by the state and that they are not considered speed control devices. They are intended to ensure the smooth flow of traffic at busy intersections and on busy streets. Speeding, which is a problem in almost every community, must be controlled by police enforcement. "We have been in touch with the Suffolk County Police Department and are working with them to help us control speeding on all of our streets," said Scordino.

Linda Christiano of South Bay Drive who bikes through the area said she would like to see the Village install a crosswalk at the location near the stop sign to provide greater safety for pedestrians.

Scordino said that he would take all of the concerns under advisement, perhaps even conduct another traffic study, and get back to the residents.

In other business, the board:

•announced the retirement of Mary Beth Wright, a Village employee for 30 years who served as the administrative secretary to three Village Mayors. The board appointed Maryanne Schettino to fill the vacant post at an annual salary of $47,000;

•approved a block party along Lewis Circle for Oct. 4, noon to midnight. Residents must block off Lewis Circle at both ends;

•hired Christine Werner as a full-time employee for the Greenhouse at an hourly wage of $10 and Wendell Johnson as a part-time sanitation worker at $8.50 per hour;

•approved a yard sale for Babylon Christian School, W. Main Street, for Oct. 18, rain date, Oct. 25.

The Village will not have a board meeting Nov. 11, Veterans Day. The next regular Village Board meeting will be held Tues., Oct. 21, 8 p.m., Village Hall.