Recap: County dredges, town pays overtime

The Suffolk County Department of Public Works plans to dredge five creeks in Riverhead Town, weather depending, but it also wants the town to pay the overtime costs for these jobs, which is estimated at about $11,300.

Gil Anderson, the public works commissioner, discussed the plans with the Riverhead Town Board at its work session Thursday. He said the department has 23 dredging jobs countywide and an approximately 107-day window to complete them. That will require workers in double-shifts working seven days a week, he said. Because of environmental restrictions pertaining to winter fluke, the dredging must be done within that period.

Mr. Anderson said the proposed dredging spots are: Meetinghouse Creek in Aquebogue, East Creek in South Jamesport, Hawks Creek in Jamesport (near Great Peconic Bay Marina), Miamogue Creek in Jamesport and Cases Creek in Aquebogue (near Dreamer’s Cove). He said all of the dredging is weather dependent, and he could make no guarantees that all five spots would be dredged.

This is the first year the county has asked town to pay overtime costs on dredging projects, Mr. Anderson said, adding that this is due to financial constraints the county faces. Town officials informally, and reluctantly, agreed to pay the overtime, but were unsure where the money would come from.

Board members also discussed a proposed resolution to ban parking on roadsides during snow storms in which the supervisor declares a state of emergency. Highway Superintendent George Woodson said he would like for parking to be banned automatically during all snow storms so his trucks won’t hit them while they are plowing.

To find out what else was discussed at the work session, click below to read out live blog of the meeting.

September 19, 2013 – Agenda by Riverhead News-Review