Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine on Thursday apologized to Town residents for not being on Long Island during this past weekend’s blizzard, but was quick to note that the Town’s highway department — not him — is responsible for overseeing snow removal operations.
"People elect their highway department superintendent, who reports directly to the people, not to the Town Board and not to the supervisor," Romaine said Thursday at Town Hall. "Nevertheless, it is part of Town government and it concerns me that they failed ... It rings hollow when I can only say how sorry I am that this branch of Town government failed us."
While Romaine said the Town Board was “forced to wrestle control of the situation away from the highway department,” he was quick to note that the response of the highway department was in no way a reflection of Town Board members or the supervisor.
Michael Murphy, Brookhaven’s interim highway superintendent, was out sick for four days during and after the snowstorm. He stepped down on Wednesday, ceding his responsibilities to John Capella.
Romaine said moving forward, he will work with Brookhaven’s future Highway Superintendent – who will be elected on March 5 – in conducting a thorough review of the department's response and inventory of the town's equipment. He also noted that a computerized tracking system is needed to update drivers in the field.
Dan Losquandro and Kathleen Walsh are running for the highway superintendent position, a race that up until now has garnered little attention.
Sara Walsh contributed to this report.
Check back for more information on this story.
Kathy Walch... . Republican, Democrat, Independent. You can't even make up your mind on this matter let alone running one of the biggest highway departments in the state!! However, i will give you this...at least you did not take a silly picture on a bulldozer. I would like to elect as a write in candidate for highway super a gentleman by the name Mark ( I did not get his last name) who is the highway foreman for the Sound Beach, Rocky Point, Miller Place communities. This past Monday evening, he jumped out of his pick up truck and jumped into the bulldozer and had our road cleared in 10 minutes!! Mark is a true gentleman who CARES about his community. His leadership abilities ( I have had other opportunities to work with Mark in the past) are that of a person who LEADS BY EXAMPLE. I'm asking all of you to simply make a phone call to the Brookhaven highway department in Coram and ask for his last name. You won't be disappointed.
Powers and duties of the Supervisor (4) Administration. As chief administrator of the Town of Brookhaven, the Supervisor shall manage the affairs of the Town with regard to organizational problems, personnel, labor relations and all other matters related to the administration of Town government. Town of Brookhaven, NY Code ecode360.com
These poor souls were on their way home from work, not from Happy Hour. Such a shame that these people had to be traumatized and in some cases their cars destroyed because our elected officials were on Vacation. Then to add insult to injury the Lettuce Head returns from vacation and blames them for going to work on Friday and getting stuck in the snow. The plows should have been plowing before the snow piled up to 3 feet. The roads should have been sanded and salted way before Fridays rush hour. News Flash Mr ED: Not everyone has a NO SHOW Government Job. Most people have to actually show up at their jobs to get a pay check. They can not decide to leave their jobs, their boss decides when they can leave. And Finally, It is not the publics job to stay home from work to make your job easier. It is your job to clear the roads so it is easier for us to get to and from our jobs!!
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(4) Administration. As chief administrator of the Town of Brookhaven, the Supervisor shall manage the affairs of the Town with regard to organizational problems, personnel, labor relations and all other matters related to the administration of Town government. Town of Brookhaven, NY Code ecode360.com aka the buck stops with ed
Less taxes, more snow, NO PROBLEMS. How does that work? The town of Brookhaven is full of crooks and secret back room deals in power grabs with a side of total disrespect for the taxpayers. The town is full of incompetent workers and cronies because getting a job in Brookhaven is not done on merit. Civil service jobs must be attend on merit only (take a test score the best have some background). It's the only way to keep civil service clean else corruption will brew. Crooks like william thesis (a former hwy superintendent) play games with hiring to work their way down civil service list to their boys. that will not get you the best people for the job. And that is even with a civil service list available. all the lower jobs don't require it. If those you hire get in on lies and deceit, what type of place do you expect? It's time for Brookhaven to have an independent observer present during hiring / interviews. Other places do it, we should too!