Meyer is back to lead Sullivan DPW

By CHARLIE BUTERBAUGH

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County’s new public works commissioner had finished his job orientation long before submitting his resume.

Robert Meyer, a professional engineer whose appointment is expected to be approved by county legislators next Thursday, served as commissioner of the Department of Public Works (DPW) from 1993 to 1994. He oversaw construction of the first phase of the Sullivan County Landfill alongside John Kehlenbeck, the county’s current director of solid waste management.

Since mid-April, Meyer has been doing part-time consulting work for DPW, a department that sustained the sudden retirement of former commissioner Peter Lilholt in February and the suspension of Deputy Commissioner Phil Nicoletti and Parks and Recreation Director Richard Caraluzzo as a result of the county’s investigation into charges of theft and coercion. Senior Fiscal Administrative Officer Amy Winters has been placed on administrative leave.

During the first civil service hearing for Nicoletti, Lilholt revealed during sworn testimony that DPW officials had opened locked offices to copy confidential personal records, misappropriated county equipment, bought items for personal use on county purchase orders and coerced a county legislator. The hearing will continue this Friday, July 15 at 9:00 a.m. at the Lawrence Cooke Courthouse in Monticello. Nicoletti’s attorney, Jonathan Lovett, will continue his cross-examination of Lilholt in an effort to discredit the six charges Sullivan County Attorney Sam Yasgur has proffered against Nicoletti. Yasgur will then call his next witness.

Meyer, a resident of Lava, said he would be looking into checks and balances to restore public trust in DPW.

“The public needs to understand that it’s not a total county government situation or a total department situation,” Meyer said.

“If there were misjudgments by a few individuals, that doesn’t mean that the whole department is bad. Ninety-nine percent are conscientious, hard-working, honest people trying to support their families,” he said. The suspended officials’ positions cannot be filled until final resolutions come at the conclusion of the civil service hearing.

In the late 1970s, Meyer did cost work, planning and scheduling for Bechtel’s $2.4 billion construction of Limerick 1 and 2, a nuclear power plant south of Allentown, PA. He worked on the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s $65 million expansion of I-95 in downtown Philadelphia as a cost engineer.

As commissioner of the Orange County Department of Environmental Facilities and Services from 1994 to 1999, Meyer oversaw the capping of the Orange County Landfill. In 1999 he opened a private consulting firm in Monticello, with which the towns of Cochecton, Tusten, Bethel, Fremont and Highland have contracted work.

Meyer’s salary will be $80,750 when he begins his full-time position at the county on August 1.

“He’s well thought of and well respected,” said County Manager Dan Briggs, who nominated Meyer.

“His credentials are impeccable,” said District 2 Legislator Kathy LaBuda, chair of the Public Works Committee, which unanimously endorsed the nomination.