Highway Concerns Linger In Grafton
By Doug La Rocque
According to Grafton Town Supervisor Ingrid Gundrum we have a “potential public safety crisis.” And while she admits crisis may be a strong word to use, considering the town Highway Department’s current staffing levels and aging equipment, she thinks “crisis” is appropriate.
The Town Board met in a workshop session on Monday evening, August 27, with Highway Superintendent Herb Hasbrouck, to discuss their concerns. The department is once again down to one full time person, with the help of a couple of part-time employees. And while the Town has recently purchased two new trucks, one new and one used, the rest of the equipment is much older, and subject to frequent breakdowns and repairs.
A prime example of some of the Board’s concerns are roads in the Babcock Lake area, where many culverts have been blocked by the recent heavy rains. Mr. Hasbrouck told the board, he and his full time employee have been able to clean out four, but the work is constrained by the lack of help.
The town has been running advertisements for more employees, and according to Ms. Gundrum, there have been several applicants. The problem is they do not have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), or not of a high enough grade to drive the tandem trucks. The Board is looking into several options, including implementing a CDL training program for what would otherwise be a qualified applicant, or perhaps looking to upgrade the fleet with smaller vehicles that do not require a CDL to drive. According to the Supervisor, ii could well be a combination of both approaches.
The summer-long lack of personnel also means, according to Ms. Gundrum, that some of the roads in the town are not in the condition they should be, with winter perhaps as little as three months away. She is also very concerned that if the winter months are anything like last March, there could be real snow removal problems. During the 2017 budget negotiations, the Town did set aside $30,000 to hire a private contractor to handle the northeast section of the town, and in particular Babcock Lake. The money was never used, and Supervisor Gundrum said it is still there and may possibly come into play this winter season. The hiring of a private contractor may have to meet certain state rules and regulations, as well as possibly becoming a subject for negotiations with the teamsters Union, which now represents highway department employees.
While no decisions where made in the workshop session, Ms. Gundrum does believe it will set a tone for the regular Town Board meeting on Monday, September, 10.