War Of Words Over Highway Issues Grows
By Doug La Rocque
While no one was accused of being a liar, as was the case at the December Town Board meeting, the verbal exchange of accusations between the board, Highway Superintendent Herb Hasbrouck, Highway Department employees and many members of the community lasted well more than an hour, at the Monday, January 14 meeting.
A recent newsletter entitled “Sons of Grafton” was one of the hot topics. It was distributed around town by Highway Department employees, in response to what author Carlos Quinones says, was all the negative rhetoric about the department’s performance this past year, an explanation about the current status the department is in, and an effort to work together with the Town Board and the community. He also indicated they wished to counter what he described as biased comments in The Eastwick Press. Editors Note; This paper has printed two letters to the editor concerning the road conditions in Grafton and Petersburgh the past two weeks. Both were signed by the author and submitted directly to The Eastwick Press. This paper does not reprint newsletters from an unnamed source. The offer to send a signed Letter to the Editor for print was extended to the department employees.
The name “Sons of Grafton” was also challenged on the floor, some feeling it should be reserved for Grafton veterans who have served, fought, and in some cases, died for their town and country. Mr. Quinones countered they meant no offense in the choice of the name.
There were many comments from residents in attendance, most complaining about road conditions in the town. Rynard Gundrum Jr. said, “the roads in this town are an absolute disgrace.” He further stated he and his son had to patch their road just to make it passable, (He was speaking of South Long Pond Road). Frank Sbrega defended the Highway Department, saying “I think they do a hell of a good job with what they have to work with.”
Condition of Town Equipment
Superintendent Hasbrouck reported that a 2005 tandem plow truck (with wing) has been taken out of service for repair and that the 2011 pick up also needed exhaust work. He also said the Town has, in his opinion, been lax over the years in replacing equipment, though when pressed by Councilman Eric Buckley, admitted the current board has, over the last three years, been very aggressive in updating the fleet.
Auditioning a Union
The $15 an hour starting wage for highway department workers was also a hot topic. Both Mr. Quinones and department employee Eric Baudy contend the wage is too low, both to attract needed employees, and for the amount of work that is expected from them. Town Supervisor Ingrid Gundrum countered that when all benefits, such as health insurance and paid time off are added in, the hourly figure is over $31 an hour. She added the starting wage is identical to what Berlin offers its highway employees, and above the starting wage in Petersburgh, the two neighboring towns with similar populations to Grafton.
The $15 an hour figure is what was in the tentative contract negotiated between the Town and the Teamsters Union, which Town Board members were under the impression was representing the highway department employees. Those employees turned down the contract last month, three months after the agreement was reached. Councilman Buckley asked why, stating that after four months of negotiations, which cost Grafton $18,000 in legal fees, they had reached a handshake agreement. Mr. Baudy countered there was no such agreement, and that the only reason they brought a union in, in the first place, was to stop the Town from taking away benefits. He stated they simply wanted a 2 percent raise. Councilman Buckley said that is exactly what the $15 an hour rate reflects. He also said, that given Mr. Baudy’s comments, why did they then not vote to de-certify the union. Mr. Baudy countered they had never certified the union in the first place. That comment was greeted by Board members with astonishment, prompting Mr. Buckley to ask, how they would allow a non-certified union to negotiate for them in the first place. Mr. Baudy answered, “it was an audition to see if we wanted to choose the Teamsters.”
That prompted Supervisor Gundrum to state the Town would immediately begin to look into the legalities of the negotiations in the first place. As conversations started to cross between residents and the employees, and the decorum of the meeting began to break down, the Supervisor closed the public comment session.
Response to the Meeting
The Eastwick Press reached out to both Supervisor Gundrum and Highway Superintendent Hasbrouck for their reaction to the very contentious meeting.
Supervisor Gundrum: “The position taken at the meeting by the members of the highway department who were present, that they had never certified to be represented by the Teamsters, is of great concern. First, because it is completely untrue. Secondly, because, if they actually stand by this position, it draws into question their integrity and their motives in seeking outside representation. Why then, did Grafton spend over $18,000 in legal cost to negotiate in good faith with a bargaining unit that the “Sons of Grafton” are now telling us never existed.”
“In my opinion, the “Sons” should now consider themselves answerable to Grafton taxpayers for their questionable organizational antics as well as their work ethic – and here I’m referencing ongoing issues regarding their time and attendance records – as it pertains to the horrible condition of Grafton’s town roads.”
Superintendent Hasbrouck: “I would hope all the parties involved can come together and rein in all this contentious behavior. As a Town we have to work together to move forward.”
He also said he feels as Superintendent, he now has “an open line of communication with the Town Board,” and is hopeful they can act as one unit to solve the issues that have been plaguing the Town’s highways.
Department Reports
Town Assessor David Galarneau reported that he is more than 80 percent complete with his review of the town’s 1842 parcels of land, and that he is finding his revaluations to be very close to 100 percent of full value. The assessor is working on a complete re-evaluation of the town for 2019.
The Grafton Rescue Squad reported it had five calls during the month of December, but were unable to form a crew for two of them and required outside assistance. That is a problem plaguing almost every Ambulance Corp in the county, not just Grafton. Squad member Donna Baldwin also said the new ambulance is in service, and about 75 percent of its members have been fully trained on it.
Town Clerk Vicky Burdick turned over a check for $2,113, representing revenue from her office for December, and the meeting was adjourned in memory of Constance LaFond.