Highway super won’t yield to pressure

David Hulse
Posted 8/21/12

GLEN SPEY, NY — Noting that he is an independently elected official, the Lumberland highway superintendent said in an April 2 letter to Supervisor Nadia Rajsz that he would do town highway projects …

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Highway super won’t yield to pressure

Posted

GLEN SPEY, NY — Noting that he is an independently elected official, the Lumberland highway superintendent said in an April 2 letter to Supervisor Nadia Rajsz that he would do town highway projects in the way he sees as best.

The letter, read at the town board’s April 8 meeting, formalized his position in a debate begun last month. Donald “Bosco” Hunt said he would “not succumb to pressure from members of the [town] board or their families to complete highway work in the way they prefer, and which is more expensive. Ultimately my responsibility is to the taxpayer…. ”

The debate centers jointly on Hunt’s request to purchase a new $231,000 tandem dump truck and snow melting attachments, rather than a used vehicle; and to his decision to contract for paving services rather than purchase a paving machine.

Hunt wrote that funds are already on hand for the truck and the purchase will cause no new taxes. He wrote further that the snow-melting unit will reduce salt use in winter, resulting in a $221,000 saving over the equipment’s 15-year expected lifespan.

On his paving decision, Hunt wrote that his choice of contractors to pave the Schwab and Bohdan Lepky roads will provide $23,888 per mile in “indisputable savings” over highway department costs of completing the work, and provide a warranty on the work.

Councilman James Akt has vehemently opposed both moves.

Akt says the town in the past has sold vehicles deemed unfixable, only to have buyers repair and use them, while Lumberland has asked taxpayers to pay hundreds of thousands for new vehicles when few of them can afford new vehicles for their own businesses.

Akt has repeatedly sought the town’s purchase of a paving machine. He argues that paving, like other highway work, is always cheaper when completed in-house. He says that towns like Cochecton, which provide paving work for other towns, are doing it to justify their own jobs.

Hunt says his crew is busy with other maintenance in the summer, but Akt suggested that if private paving is used, the town could “lay you off in summer and you could get other jobs.”

After reading the letter, Rajsz reported that $489,000 is available in certificates of deposit and capital reserve funds.

She also noted that she only recently learned that the new truck would replace one generally operated by her son-in-law. “Some have been saying that we’re getting it for my son-in-law.”

She denied that, saying, “No. A dangerous truck is hazardous,” no matter who is operating it.

No decisions were made. Rajsz said the board would take Hunt’s recommendation under advisement.

In other business, the board appointed Maryann Farrell as town custodian, Eric Robles as part-time parks/ground maintenance worker, John Burrows as part-time buildings maintenance worker, Jeanne Mulcahey to a vacant seat on the board of assessment review, Darnell Prunka as director of the summer youth program, and Susan Gregg as its program assistant.

Rajsz also said she would prepare a proclamation for the May meeting, honoring long-time community activist Sophia Martynec, who passed away on April 1.

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