What are your top priorities if elected? Do you see any problem roads you’d like to fix? What projects are in the future?
My top priorities for the future if re-elected will be to keep on schedule with road repairs — not patching — so we get more than two years out of our new roads. Also to keep equipment up-to-date and in optimal working condition — to avoid unnecessary expenditures of purchasing new equipment.
Some road problems that I would like the opportunity to work on concern stormwater and flash flooding. This is going to be a big challenge. With New Paltz being designated a MS4 Area, this presents new requirements in reporting and regulations in dealing with stormwater and flash flooding. This will require working with other agencies and departments to keep the community safe and get them help in the event of stormwater and flash flooding.
In the future I would like to tackle the following issues. In the buildings and grounds department, I would like to increase our work for recreation in all the parks and get the buildings that the town owns up to par. In the water and sewer department, I would like to update our meter system that will allow us to take more accurate water reports and detect issues with the system. Revamping Sewer 6 to an updated facility is a top priority as this station is currently out-of-date and in need of upgrading.
Fred Vitarius
Why are you running for highway superintendent?
After many years of watching the highway department being run by department heads with little-to-no highway experience, I believe that it is time for the taxpayers of New Paltz to elect a candidate with over 20 years of heavy highway construction and rehab experience. Providing the people of New Paltz and our daily visitors with a network of safer, well-maintained parks, roadways and town-owned facilities.
What makes you ready for the job? What kind of experiences, previous jobs will make you fit to lead the highway department?
As no one who enters public service can ever be 100 percent ready for the job, I believe that my extensive work history will be more than sufficient to guide me in the position of highway superintendent.
My career in highway maintenance started in 1990 as a laborer for the Albany Bridge Corporation, working five years in all phases of bridge construction, repair and maintenance through New York State — including a first summer working alongside future co-workers from the Ulster County Department of Highways & Bridges on the restoration of our own Carmine Liberta Bridge.
Moving on to 11 years with the County Department of Highways & Bridges as a construction equipment operator II, clocking endless hours of snow and ice removal, all phases of surface maintenance and drainage installation. Overseeing a crew in the installation, repair and replacement of the county guiderail system. Repaired or replaced many of the bridge spans you may have crossed through the county.
Responsible for daily keeping of time and progress reports of the projects that fell under my control. Passed both the Ulster County civil service tests for section supervisor and bridge supervisor. The past six years I have traveled through New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut as a foreman for the Chemung Supply Corporation. Installing and repairing guiderails on state, county, town highways, major and minor bridge repair the construction and installation of high-flow, multi-plate arch culverts.
Every job I have had for more than 20 years has been involved with the public safety from the bridges you cross to the roadways you drive daily. Always keeping in mind that I too am a taxpayer and doing my best to approach each project with that in mind. I do believe because of my extensive working history and network of state, county and local officials I’m the man for the job — the first highway man running in quite a long time.
Back in 2012, longtime buildings and grounds department head Bob Leghorn retired. Town Board members ended up merging buildings and highway to share staff and save costs. Chris Marx is paid extra for this work. However, that arrangement isn’t guaranteed. That extra work is voluntary and not a part of the highway superintendent’s job description. Would you continue that setup and perform that extra work? Or would you focus just on the highway department?
I would have to believe the taxpayers of New Paltz and the Town Board will see from my extensive work history they will be getting more bang for their buck and things with the position won’t change much; but if they do, we will cross that bridge when we get there. The New Paltz taxpayers expect and deserve all of our public servants to do their job to the best of their ability, especially in this time of financial hardship.
What are your top priorities if elected? Do you see any problem roads you’d like to fix? What projects are in the future?
First and foremost, environmental issues are always important. The reduction of our carbon footprint is vital — along with reduction of soil erosion from drainage projects and the impact of snow and ice removal on our water sources.
If elected, I would also like to organize a mutually beneficial network with our neighboring municipalities including the village, county and New York State in order to ease the tax burden to New Paltz and our neighbors. Rebuild a strong respectful working relationship will all town employees. Create a comprehensive record of all maintenance and composition of all town roads. Come up with a plan with the county and New York State in order to alleviate the chronic flooding of the Route 299 corridor and the Springtown Road area.
One very obvious money saver with little expense would be the installation of snow fence again in chronic drifting areas. They have not been installed in six years. No telling how much money has been wasted chasing avoidable drifting — including the infamous towing incident last year on Butterville Road that could have been avoided with snow fence.
Repair and upgrade the rail trail system. Grant writing will be another important tool to ease the tax burden in town and will be taken full advantage of. The common factor in getting anything done is money. Revenue is hard to come by these days and yes, I understand the Liberta Bridge belongs to the county, but it is a vital part of the town’s infrastructure and with my contacts in the county and New York State its rehab, repair and replacement will be priority one.
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