Town’s consolidation and reorganization plan a go
When the Oyster Bay Town Board met on Tuesday they approved a departmental consolidation and reorganization plan, which they hope will reduce costs for taxpayers, improve operations and maximize the delivery of services. Four town departments were consolidated into two departments, and a new town Department of Sanitation was created.
The town board passed a resolution unanimously to consolidate the Highway Department into the Department of Public Works. Their goal is to build synergy between the Engineering Division of DPW and the men and women of the Highway Department, who perform maintenance. By rolling the Department of Highway into DPW, the town will reduce costs by not hiring a new commissioner, since the department no longer exists.
Additionally, the Department of Economic Development was consolidated into the Department of Planning and Development.
“The town board has been focused on finding savings in every corner of our government,” Councilman Steve Labriola said. “This departmental consolidation will allow us to achieve efficiencies, save taxpayers money and improve the delivery of services.”
In addition to the DPW and the Highway Department merger, the board also passed a resolution to create a new Department of Sanitation. It is hoped it will streamline sanitation collection operations and recycling collection programs.
It replaces the division of sanitation and recycling collection that was previously run by the DPW. This department will have jurisdiction over the solid waste complex and landfill, which has been inactive for years but still requires strict adherence to quality control standards and protocols set forth by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and both state and county health departments.
The town board also addressed questions and concerns from residents of the town. One concerned citizen who spoke several times was Arthur Adelman, of Sea Cliff, a regular at these board meetings. He raised numerous concerns regarding costs associated with water monitoring contracts to third parties, due to the open-ended nature of the contract’s writing, without attached costs.
Adelman also questioned the prices the town was paying to the Oyster Bay Animal Shelter for food and other items, as well as the quantity. He said the shelter should be more reliant on private businesses like Petco and others for their supplies. The conversation turned rather heated when Adelman accused the board of mismanagement of the funds.
“We do appreciate the positivity of your suggestions,” Supervisor Joseph Saladino said, “but it gets a little difficult when you make false claims against the town’s employees.”
