Town highway superintendent opposes cuts

RED HOOK, N.Y. » Town Supervisor Robert McKeon and Highway Superintendent Teresa Burke are at odds over cuts to the department’s staff and equipment.

Burke said during a videoconference meeting of the Town Board on Wednesday that the proposed cuts for 2021 could be “debilitating” toward maintaining safe roads in Red Hook.

“I am asking you to look carefully at the whole picture,” she said. “What may be perceived as savings on paper may result in a reduction of services that will put our residents and roads at higher risk.”

Burke said a reserve fund already has been tapped because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The town wants to eliminate previously planned purchases of a backhoe loader costing $120,000 and a skid steer costing $52,000. Burke said her department at least needs the backhoe loader.

Burke also wants to add a mechanical equipment operator to the Highway Department staff at a cost of $65,000, but the town wants to reduce the department’s workforce.

“A skeleton crew leaves no room for replacement of staff due to injury or illness,” the superintendent said. “Plowing operations will be reorganized into longer runs, which will in turn place greater stress and fatigue on both drivers and equipment.”

Burke also objects to a plan to cut the number of hours the department’s clerk works to six hours per week.

McKeon said the department could survive the budget cuts by working with the village of Red Hook Highway Department.

“We’ll get more into this during budget season, but ... we’ve had an intermunicipal agreement with the village,” he said.

He said the village mayor is “open to discussing” collaborative efforts regarding road matters.