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Massena village board and Department of Public Works agree on plowing of state roads following tense discussion

Posted 10/8/14

By ANDY GARDNER MASSENA -- The Village Board of Trustees agreed to have the Department of Public Works plow state roads in Massena, but not after a few tense moments between a trustee and the DPW …

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Massena village board and Department of Public Works agree on plowing of state roads following tense discussion

Posted

By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- The Village Board of Trustees agreed to have the Department of Public Works plow state roads in Massena, but not after a few tense moments between a trustee and the DPW head.

Although he later voted to accept the contact, Trustee Francis Carvel sparred briefly with Public Works Superintendent Hassan Fayad over whether it was in the village’s best interest to use its time, manpower and equipment to clear the roads, instead of the state doing the work.

The roads they clear include Main Street, Maple Street, the Parker Avenue bridge and East Orvis Street.

Fayad explained that the village has received $436,000 in reimbursements over the last five years to do the job. During that timeframe, there were $8,354 in accident claims, compared to about $14,000 claimed on village roads.

Fayad said even though the state reimburses the drivers, it’s a boon to the village because it’s time they would be out on the road anyways. He said last year, it incurred no overtime.

But Carvel said he believes that the village still doesn’t come out ahead.

“That’s not profit,” he said.

Fayad replied by saying the real loss is having the village plow private roads, such as Leech Street and the parking lot behind the fire department.

Both Mayor James Hidy and Trustee Patricia Wilson said they were in favor of doing the plowing because it gets the village streets cleared quicker than if the state did the work.