In My Opinion:Which Way for the Highway?

Bazzo at Work
By Anthony J. Bazzo

Which Way for the Highway?

What is one of the three greatest lies? Answer: I am from the government and I am here to help you. There is a corollary falsehood in Yorktown being spread by some: and that is Ccreating a Department of Public Works has nothing to do with DPW advocates’ feelings about Highway Superintendent Eric DiBartolo. You know an idea is a bad one when it starts with a lie. Of course, it ISis about Eric. Yes, it probably would save money, but so did Yorktown save money when Eric helad the title Head of Labor Relations. Still, in one of its first actions of 2010, the Town Board, with then- Supervisor Siegel leading the charge, in one of their first actions in 2010 was to abolished that position due to because they had disagreements with Eric;, saving the town money had nothing to do with itmattered not.

Now these same people want to create a civil service position of Department of Public Works, headed by some one not accountable to the voters (aka taxpayers). Now that this is their idea, cThe DPWers claim that consolidation with someone not named Eric DibBartolo, who is would be ineligible because he does not have the required engineering degree, would save the town money. Eric has proved through his many years of service that an engineering degree is not needed when someone competent is in charge.

This is about power;, power of elected officials, not of voters. The “let’s get rid of Eric” crowd want some one beholden to them in that positionfor their job. Under the old way, Eric was beholden to the voters. That is the way it should be. That is one reason Eric put in the time and effort to transform to town services under his supervision into a more efficient machine. He had to answer to taxpayersyou.

Now one might say, “If Eric is so good, why are our roads in such bad shape?” The answer is simple. The previous Town Board allotted him no money for paving. To get the job done on the roads he did do required grants from the state and Federal governments. However, not using town money under the guise that it saved taxpayers money was not the reason. The reason was to make Eric look bad to the voters. The monkey wrench was underestimating Eric’s talent in getting necessary money from other sources.

Now, tTo create a Department of Public Works, the town would have to have have to put a referendum on November’s ballot eliminating as an elected position the Head of the Highway Department Superintendent as an elected office. As any one who drives around town in inclement weather knows, our Yorktown’s Highway Department puts others to shame. As anyone who has tried to get help by phoning the Highway Department knows, Eric is always available. This is because he is accountable to you and he knows it.

Eric’s talent for getting from point A to point B may sometimes get him in trouble, but it does get results and the Yorktown is better for it. You can thank Eric for the job he and those under him do by not supporting a switch from elected to appointed making this position through the creation of a Department of Public Worksappointed. Urge your town officials not to put this referendum on November’s ballot.

This is my opinion, you may beg to differ.

Anthony. J. Bazzo
The opinions expressed by freelance contributors to PennySaver Community do not necessarily reflect those of PennySaver Community or its parent Chase Media Group.

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