Do you have any new initiatives in your approach to running your department and taking care of the roads that could be either environmentally friendly or save taxpayers’ dollars or both?
Besides being aggressive when it comes to finding other revenue streams from federal, state and county agencies, I’d also like to look into using people who are offered community service hours as part of their sentencing. Any extra manpower we can get free of charge would be beneficial.
The fire department also saves the taxpayers a lot of money because we’re often the first line of defense during a storm. If a tree falls on a road, we’re usually the first ones there and if we can handle it ourselves, we do, without having to use overtime hours from the highway department. We’ve also implemented a proactive program that I want to continue where we survey all of the trees along our roadways and mark any that are dead or diseased. That way we can take them down before a storm hits. I also think that I have so many contacts from my work at the highway department and the fire department that I can cut through a lot of red tape and just get the job at hand done.
Gary Upright
Why did you decide to run for the position of superintendent of highways?
Basically, it’s time for a change. Since I started my own business — Upright Property Management — three years ago, I’m around Gardiner all the time. I see the way things are running at the highway department and they’re not running well at all. I think I can come in and make the changes needed on a day-to-day basis to make things more efficient, save taxpayers’ dollars and make sure that the work is being done correctly so we’re not wasting money doing the same roads over and over again. I want to be a presence in the community, reach out to the Parks and Recreation Department, the rail trail and work together to make Gardiner a better place for all of us and our families.
What experiences/skills/qualifications do you have that you believe will make you a competent superintendent of highways?
After graduating from New Paltz High School in 1986, I went right into heavy construction. I worked for a lot of big contractors; I worked for Central Hudson in Rockland and Orange counties putting in pipes, lines, repairing roads. Basically, anything that has to do with road construction, maintenance, drainage, I’ve done for almost 25 years. I have more experience in this area than anyone at the highway garage, including my opponent.
If elected, what would be your top three priorities?
First and foremost, I would be a presence. You’d see me on the roads, at the garage, making sure the jobs are getting done and getting done correctly. I think we need to have a better working schedule so that I know where the guys are, what they’re working on and how each job is coming along. The schedule could be much more efficient and productive.
I think it is critical that we have a truck and equipment maintenance plan and replacement schedule in place. We had to replace three trucks this year — three! Why? Because they were not being maintained properly; they were being run into the ground and that’s no way to run a department. That’s a big hit for taxpayers, to pay for three new trucks in one shot.
I think there also needs to be more job training. Things are changing all the time and there are new and more efficient, cost-saving and environmentally friendly ways to do things, so training your employees is very important.
Do you have any new initiatives in your approach to running your department and taking care of the roads that could be either environmentally friendly or save taxpayers’ dollars or both?
One thing we have to do is manage the amount of salt and sand we put down on the roads. There are ways to reduce the amount of salt and still have safe roads. The less salt we use, the less money we spend and the less runoff we have into our streams and rivers.
This department needs to be revamped, reorganized with a better maintenance plan, a tighter schedule, so that we don’t get into a situation where we have to redo a road because it wasn’t done right the first time or have to purchase three trucks because we let them fall apart. That’s not going to happen when I’m superintendent. Also, I intend to be there every day. I know it’s considered a part-time job, but I’m going to approach it as a full-time job.
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