Highway superintendent reports heavy winter response, fleet maintenance and Church Street repaving petition

Sean McGovern, the village’s highway superintendent, presented the department’s December activity and winter response during the Jan. 8 meeting, reporting five storms since late fall and multiple call‑outs for snow and ice operations.

McGovern described extensive in‑house fleet maintenance and repairs — from greasing and fluid changes to fabricating parts — and said plows required strip‑down and reassembly because of rust. He said the department handles routine brush and trash pickup across the village, sign installation and repairs when vehicles damage signs, and recent posting of four new snow‑ordinance signs at major village entrances.

On Church Street repaving, McGovern said the village has received the resident petition for repaving; he cautioned that paving depends on blacktop plant availability (typically late April–May) and coordination with Central Hudson and the water department to ensure utility work is completed before paving.

McGovern asked for improved communications ahead of storms so officers can enforce winter parking restrictions, and he urged the board to ensure snow‑route postings and website/Facebook updates are timely so residents receive notices. He also said he and staff will continue to coordinate with the treasurer and other departments for scheduling and budgeting.

Ending: The board noted the capital plan includes repaving projects and said staff will continue to coordinate scheduling with utilities and contractors; no formal action on Church Street was taken at this meeting.