STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Borough elected officials have announced a "milestone agreement" to tackle -- once and for all -- the turkey population that has plagued Ocean Breeze and nearby Dongan Hills residential blocks for years.

The agreement -- between Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH), the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) -- will permit the capture and relocation of toms and hens that congregate on SIUH grounds.

Previous DEC and USDA capture operations have been carried out on state land adjacent to the hospital campus: The grounds of South Beach Psychiatric Center.

These efforts met with only partial success because visitors fed the turkeys on the nearby SIUH campus.

"The turkeys' overwhelming presence on the hospital grounds poses considerable safety risks to our patients and visitors," said SIUH executive director Donna Proske. "Our concerns stem from aggressive birds near our facility entrances, traffic stoppage from large flocks interfering with ambulances and patient drop-offs, and unsanitary eliminations on the sidewalks."

'HUGE STEP FORWARD'

"This could be a huge step forward in our efforts to end the long-standing issues posed by these wild turkeys," said Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island).

"Going onto SIUH property gives us a real chance to bring down the turkey population before a new generation of turkeys is born, and ultimately reduce the turkey population in Staten Island. It has been a long and arduous process, and I want to thank our friends at SIUH for being responsive to our request to join us in what amounts to a collective effort to improve the health and well-being of our community," Matteo added.

Borough President James Oddo welcomed the agreement, which provides for removal of the turkeys to an upstate animal sanctuary in Greene County.

"Thank you to our friends from SIUH for their willingness to work with us to remove the turkeys on their property to a more suitable sanctuary upstate," he said. "This will make the capture and removal efforts even more effective, and hopefully help solve the problem. An unchecked wild turkey population, while a novelty when it started, does negatively affect the quality of life for residents of these affected areas. This is an ideal solution for residents of the areas, as well as the turkeys who will live in a more suitable and pastoral location."

Added Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn): "The turkey removal operation in Ocean Breeze has been a very welcome development for the residents who've been forced to deal with this problem for too long. We need to stay consistent in our efforts to finally get this resolved and I'm thankful that Staten Island University Hospital is, as always, a willing partner for the community."

"This quality-of-life nuisance looks to be nearing a humane conclusion," said Congressman Daniel Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn). "When government bureaucracy is responsive to community needs, we can achieve productive results."

DEC regional director Venetia Lannon thanked the USDA and SIUH for their participation. "Through this partnership, the birds will be transported to the same sanctuary in Greene County, N.Y., that we have used in the past," she said.