Highway Department expects difficult year
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Amherst Highway crew members Robert Ryan and Tim Kuzon clear debris from a ditch on Millbrook Court Thursday. Budgetary issues are causing concern for handling the 2007 workload. Photo by John Rusac

Highway Superintendent Bob Anderson is officially operating under his 2007 budget, which he said is underfunded.

“The end result is devastating,” he said. “The budget is cut, but there are standards required to be met.”

Anderson said his request for budget funding is based on history and the exact numbers spent on operation, materials and equipment. With the cuts made, Anderson said he is going to try and do everything he can, but he already has eliminated some projects.

A drainage project in the Northledge Drive area has been set aside, along with other projects of that nature in older areas of town.

Equipment purchases became an issue last year as the Amherst Town Board started denying requests in an effort to save money and study the number of vehicles needed by the town.

Anderson said many of his pieces of equipment do not pass New York State inspection. At one point, 13 pieces of equipment were taken off the road for being unsafe and unfit to do the work they are designed to do.

Amherst Highway Employee’s Association President Chris O’Neill said the budget decisions were made without Supervisor Satish Mohan coming down to the department.

“The cuts were made without looking,” he said. “It is about the safety of the residents and quality of life. Our business is to be prepared.”

O’Neill added that one of the major line items affected was salt — a $350,000 reduction.

The department estimates that in a heavy three-day weekend the town can go through a barn worth of salt.

“I asked for the amounts that have been used in the past. It’s not a pie-in-the-sky guess,” Anderson said, frustrated about not being funded for salt.

In addition to town roads, Amherst is contracted to plow some county and University at Buffalo campus roads.

Also cut from this year’s budget:

• $362,902 from the forestry account, which is being used in storm cleanup.

 $120,000 for road striping, a function required by the state — leaving zero dollars.

 $100,000 for repair of storm receivers — leaving zero dollars.

 $87,200 for diesel fuel.

 $50,000 for replacement of the Parks Department’s electrical system — currently the system is considered a fire risk.

 $40,000 for mosquito control.

 65 percent reduction in overtime and 50 percent in summer help.

Anderson said these functions need to be done for the safety of the town.

“Striping, by state law, needs to be done every three years to remain reflective,” he said, adding that the cut is irresponsible and could cause accidents or injury and even cost a human life.

Anderson said he understands residents’ desire for a reduction in taxes, but they also want to maintain the same quality of life.

“The town is getting larger, and so is the scope of maintenance,” he said.

While the duties of the Highway Department continue to mount, the crew stays relatively the same with five employees hired since 1979. Retirees have not been replaced, leaving the department with less staff.

Anderson said that if he can’t hire employees, then he needs all the summer help available, but the 50 percent reduction in that line will have a big impact.

“I know what needs to be done today, not Dr. Mohan; his job is to do forward thinking for the town,” Anderson said.

Whether it’s a truck that fails, a shortage of workers or lack of funding for materials, O’Neill said the work still has to be done and the department continues to work to meet the needs with a smaller budget.

e-mail: jfinch@beenews.com