WHITE LAKE, NY — At the Bethel town meeting on February 11, it seemed as if Supervisor Dan Strum wanted to turn the temperature down a bit after the previous town meeting turned into a shouting match over the snow removal and overtime budget. Sturm and Councilperson Vicky Simpson said highway superintendent William Crumley was using too much salt and overtime, and was going to break the budget, while Crumley argued he was doing what was necessary.

At the February 11 meeting Sturm read a statement: “The board has some concerns about the highway budget; the highway department has some concerns about supplies and products needed to get through this winter into the next winter. I’d be more than happy to sit down at any time to discuss any issues relating to the highway department in an effort to assist in any way we can. We can meet once every week, every two weeks, whatever is convenient.”

At the end of the meeting, it was clear Crumley was not ready to let the matter drop. He read from a prepared statement in response to a letter Sturm read at the previous meeting, which Crumley called a, “scathing, inaccurate, misleading and offensive letter.” Crumley said, “You’re not my boss, I’m not your boss. I’m a duly elected official in complete charge of the highway department.”

A bit further along he read a couple of words not normally heard at town meetings: “Do not use me to feed your ego and satiate your narcissism. How will you, to paraphrase your direct quote ‘see me in irons’ when I am doing my job?”

At the previous meeting, Sturm’s letter said Crumley’s salt and overtime practices would lead to a $200,000 deficit. Crumley distributed a packet of papers, one of which called that claim a “false projection.” The packet also contained a news article from The River Reporter in 2005, in which the former highway superintendent was facing a $220,000 deficit at a time when Simpson was town supervisor.

Three residents spoke in Crumley’s defense and said he was doing a good job of keeping the roads clear.