Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 3 Built The ou Wo noDoeSw NEW tT Keep Y oorking uWingogg®Sper ™Plow rrucks Call 4 A&AT 1109 or emailx There's a SnowDogg 440-974-8888 ext. LathamAutoP l munisales@buyersproducts.com y ApplicatioBuilt For An® artsandSupply g P for a quote. aySpring on ThruW oughkeepsieP12CommerceExt. rruck 631IslandiaAve.434OldSuffolk Confer RBR 607 723BinghamtonAliceSt.25 ruck Body 6wnSmithtoJericho Tpke.JerichoTpke865W 865 W Binghamton T A&A T Hudson River T Av862Lincoln Suffolk Count ashingtW1801 ierSouthern T Rd.ransit ruck 8473OH124L 8473 OH 124 L 845 454 7669 1 234 8214 3 8993 Latham Auto 631 656 5454 Niagara T 6316565454 803T 631 244 7120Bohemiae. viceBrake Ser 716 487 0168wnJamestoon St Supply 716 625 9181EastAmherst Equipment740 493 74049327652765tham arts and Supply La 518 480 3540ortEdwardFthLn.wpao268 631 244 8600BohemiaAve.458Johnson rius 585 254 5852546161RochesterRead Blvd.ReadBlvd1609Mt ay Spring 1609 MtThruT W T 000 WITH PRMADE THE USAIDE IN N BuyersProducts.com
“They are excited to again return to normal and shake hands and make deals,” he said. “We again are on pace to sell out the show. We have both exhibitors who have stood by our side for the past 28 years and new exhibitors who will be attending for the first time. One new exhibitor reached out to a friendly competitor to see if they should get a booth. His friend told him it is one of the best shows he exhibits at all year.“If you have not signed up, I encourage you to purchase some sort of booth space,” Teddy added. “As you can see, various segments of the industry will be exhibiting. Supply constraints will loosen up, and you do not want to shut off your lead funnel. It is also a great time to get in front of customers you might not have been able to see in a while. “We appreciate the continued support from the vendors and the ongo ing support from all the superintendents and their crews. We could not continue to put on this great show without your support.”
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It’s that time of year again. Sure, it’s almost autumn and leaf season and looming snowstorms and so forth, but what I mean here is that it’s time for my annual dispelling of the cliché, “There’s no such thing as a freeOncelunch.”again, at the N.Y.S. Highway & Public Works Expo in Syracuse on Oct. 19, there will be a free lunch for you and your crews thanks to nine lunch sponsors — ALTA Equipment, Tracey Road Equipment, Stadium International, Austin Farm, Henderson, Milton CAT, Admar Supply, Tenco and J. Russell Group. What a great morale-boosting activ ity, right? Can you tell we really hope you and your crews will attend the Expo? Well, we’re excited for the upcoming show and so is Teddy McKeon, who is setting up his first Expo as show manager. It’s hard work and he’s been doing a great job. “I am excited about the 28th annual N.Y.S. Highway & Public Works Expo,” he said. “This will be my 10th year helping out at the show, but this time in a new capacity as show manager. I have enjoyed working the ticket booth and speaking with all the attendees as they storm the door in the Anticipationmorning.”forthe show is building as Superintendent’s Profile has begun its marketing efforts toward both attendees and exhibitors.
4 Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 PRODUCERS OF THE ANNUAL NEW YORK STATE HIGHWAY & PUBLIC WORKS EXPO
I couldn’t have said it better myself (which is why I got out of the way and gave him the space to say it all). Again, I thank you for your contin ued support and loyal readership. Throughout this issue, you can find a host of information about the upcoming Expo. Oh, and look for com plete exhibitors’ listing in next month’s issue of Superintendent’s Profile. Take care … see you soon.
Teddy McKeon: email: tmckeonjr@cegltd.com email: bbuckley@cegltd.com a by Town, County, D.O.T. of $25.00 send D.O.T. Edwin M. McKeon Jr. Craig Mongeau Kent Hogeboom Mgr. John Pinkerton Judith Nixon Mgr. Cathy Printz Deby Hogeboom Teddy McKeon Bob Buckley
OCTOBER 19, 2022 • SYRACUSE, NEW YORK P U B L I S H E D B Y Mailed 11 times
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official in NY State. Subscriptions are available to all interested persons at a cost
Officials, material may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. © 2022 PROFILE PUBLICATIONS PROFILE PUBLICATIONS, SUPERINTENDENT'S PROFILE & PRODUCT-SERVICE DIRECTORY, NYS HIGHWAY & PUBLIC WORKS EXPO & SNOWPLOW ROADEO ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS Highway Superintendent Richard T. Othmer Jr. and the Town of Kent ..............................................................9 Advertiser / Supplier Index ..................................................70 Lots of news, products and services throughout! 361 Shoemaker Road Mohawk NY 13407 Phone 315/866-1423 E-Mail - khogeboom@cegltd.com INSIDE Volume 46, Number 509, September 2022 NEW YORK STATE STAFF President/Publisher
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Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 5
6 Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 p ment rucksur latest t a n d e q ui E x p lore o ota lt1 05,000 sq f t 35,000 s q ft NEW ex p ansion e-o f -t h et a tS menttde p a r N ew office s ucks a nrtfor i onNe w add i t liv e m us i E n j o y lun ma n u fwitacthMeet wi tM eet t was h b aysar alp aces and rent d equipmentviceba y sna l ser SW#032119 HCESW #032119HCE
Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 7 TRACEYROAD.COM (800) 872-2390 Heavy & Utility Equipment SW OGS#121918-FTS#PC69232 Sewer Vac Trucks ONONDAGA #8996 SW #122017-HVC Wheel Loaders HGAC #EM06-17 Excavators HGAC #EM06-17 Compact Equipment SW OGS#032119-CNH#PC67265 Airport Equipment SW #030619-OKC Asphalt Rollers HGAC #SM10-18 Public Utility & Airport ONONDAGA #8996 SW OGS#122017-SWZ#PC69050 SnoGo Snow Blowers SW #080114-WAS Class 3-8 vehicles OGS #PC68966 SYRACUSE ALBANY BINGHAMTON QUEENSBURY ROCHESTER UTICA WATERTOWN We’ve Got NYS Covered! No Bidding Required Flail & Boom Mowers, Sickle Bar, Rotary Cutters SW OGS#052417-AGI#PC68200 Brush Chippers, Stump Cutters, Mini Skid Steers, Forestry Mulchers SW #050119-MBI SW #031721-MBI Complete Rental Fleet is Now Available OGS #PC67218 RENTAL FLEET Hitachi ZW80–ZW310 (1.18 cu yd–5.5 cu yd) Wheel EtnyreLoaders4WD ChipspreaderSECTIONAVAILABLEUNDER103 Western Star & Freightliner Models ONONDAGA #8996 ALL NEW WESTERN STAR X-SERIES NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE! Various EquipmentEarthmoving SW OGS#032119-HCE#PC69513 Paver-Screeds, Brooms, Milling/Planing/Reclaiming& HGAC #SM10-18Formerly
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Highway Superintendent Richard T. Othmer Jr. and the Town of Kent
For Richard T Othmer Jr., the road to becoming the town of Kent’s highway superintendent began on Sept. 11, 2001. He worked for the New York Fire Department from 1986 to 2007 and although he was off on that fateful day, what he saw when he returned city,” Richard said. “We couldn’t have everyone at Ground Zero. But everything else was a blip on the radar screen. It was like a science fic tionHemovie.”stayed on at FDNY for another six years to help train the young guys joining the force.
By Lori Lovely PROFILE CORRESPONDENT continued on page 22
10 Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 HendersonProducts.com SALESSERVICEINSTTAALLATIO(914) SlRttiJeffWWeeisbrot 8)Sales Representativeim Plante,TTi (716)Sales ManagerMark Kough, 01)98035PARTSjweisbrot@hendersonproductscomtplante@hendersonproducts.com573mkough@hendersonproducts.com481-6403N All Henderson equipment is available on Sourcewell Henderson6862FisherRoaProducts,Inc.,2(973) Sales RepresentativeEric Booth, 5)Sales RepresentativeJennifer Himes, (585)Sales Representativey,,BillTToooley Sales Representativeeisbrot,Jeff W I, 059212-HPI (BrineXtreme products) and Onondaga / Oneida county contracts.8-HPContract18080 01)06194-8d,atertown,1063PHONE:)513(785-0994F)513(785-0146AX:NY1Webooth@hendersonproducts.com945-1029jhimes@hendersonproducts.com4btooley@hendersonproducts.com716-5887jweisbrot@hendersonproductscom98035
Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 11
12 Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 C GSCContract!a N Co NNowonthwthe LA SYRACUSE 5985 Court Street Syracuse, NY 1320 (315) 437-2611 ATTHAM 17 Northway Lane Latham, NY 12110 (518) 220-9500 Road6 Getting vital services a important to keep costs nd planned projects com down. You need high-qualit pleted on time is y equipment to get Y BATAAV V IA 4554 West Saile D Batavia, NY 14020 (585) 344-1931 AltaEquipN Y..com NYS OGS CONTRACT rive T NUMBER PC69437 833-Go2-ALTTAA | AltaEquipNY.com
Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 13 C GSContract!aC N Co NNowonthwthe LA SYRACUSE 5985 Court Street Road Syracuse, NY 13206 (315) 437-2611 ATTHAM 17 Northway Lane Latham, NY 12110 (518)220 9500 The JCB H for theJCBpurposistheJCBH serviceabil JCB back 65aexcavatingsinglem ydradig 110W is the first w se and without compromise e first to move the engine, t ydradig 110W first for visib ity hoe loaders are versatile m g, loading, lifting and materi achine that is easy to ftJCBidthbmaintaain and simple to operate. T , maneuverability, stabilityility heeled excavator and tool carrier designed . The result is an engineering masterpiece. anks and ancillaries to the chassis, making y, y, y,, mobility and achines that combine excellent trenching, al handling capabilities with the benefits of Tooday, more than khldi1953th i ANY ST AltaEquipNY 833-Go2-ALT BAT (518) 2209500 ATTAAVIA 4554 West Saile Drive Batavia, NY 14020 (585) 344-1931 LTTA A Y..com TAATTE CONTRACT # PPC69235 JCB T years after JCB pioneered the bac the world leader in backhoe technolo loaders are the most popular and mo many backhoes around the globe as a Discover the Teeleskid, the wo compact track loader with a telesco further and dig deeper than any skid s work sites and perform tasks that are s steer machine. ping boom, allowing it to lift higher ckhoe loader in 1953, the company remains gy, innovation and capability. JCB backhoe st trusted in the world, with JCB selling as ll other manufacturers combined rld’s first and only skid steer loader and r,, reach teer on the market. NOW YOU CAN! access imply not possible with a conventional skid 833-Go2 pNY-ALTTAA | AltaEqui Y..com
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P (All photographs are Copyright 2022 Superintendent’s Profile. All Rights Reserved.)
In 2021, more than 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space contained a wide array of equipment and services from nearly 150 companies. In 2021, Robert Brandt, assistant superintendent of street cleaning of the city of Syracuse won a pair of tickets to the Buffalo Bills vs. Carolina Panthers game.
Last year’s N.Y.S. Highway & Public Works Expo returned after a two-year hiatus caused by COVID-19 and was a huge success, thanks to all of you, attendees and exhibitors.
Every attendee of the 2021 Expo was given the opportunity to win door prizes from nearly every exhibitor and the chance to win one of the grand prizes of Buffalo Bills tickets or NASCAR race tickets. The same will be true this year.
At the 2021 Expo, Kent Hogeboom (L) of Superintendents Profile presented Robert Malone, highway superintendent of the town of Oswego, a pair of tickets to the 2022 NASCAR race weekend at Watkins Glen International Speedway.
The 2021 Expo featured more than 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and nearly 150 exhibits. Highway departments and DPW crews from across the state were drawn to the Expo Center at the NYS Fairgrounds in Syracuse to experience the largest collection of highway and municipal equipment on display in New York State since the previous Expo in 2019. Everyone was definitely happy to get together again.
On display at last year’s show were trucks and truck bodies as well as earthmoving and excavating equipment, mowing and groundskeeping machines from every manufacturer imaginable. If your department had a need, it could have been filled at the N.Y.S. Highway & Public Works Expo. The same will prove true for the upcoming 2022 installment of the Expo. Please check out the promotion pieces in this issue (and of course, please read my column on page 4) to get a lot more information about the show. Also, expect the full exhibitor list in next month’s Superintendent’s Profile. In the meantime, here are a few photos from 2021, including the Grand Prize winners. If you attend, you could be a big winner, too, and get your photo in the magazine. You’ll be famous.
Last Year’s Expo Was Big... This Year’s Show Will Be, Too
Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 19 CongratulationstotheTownofColumbia!72’x160’CalhounHTSaltStoragebuildingwithelitefabriccoverwitha25yearwarrantyon9’8”precastconcretewallmeantforstockpilingsand&salt www.sourcewell-mn.gov
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Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 21
Modestly, the former firefighter said he can do brickwork, but never rose to the level of his father, whom he considers a true master. In addition, because it’s tough for a small mason business to function during the freezing winter months, as a newly married man, he resorted to a second job bartending and cooking in a local Irish Pub to make a living.
A sign in Richard’s office leaves little doubt about his military background.
22 Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 Still, he added, there were “too many memories” and a lot of the guys have since died of “9/11 cancer,” so, after 21 years on the fire department, he left.
“I went back to the mason business,” Richard said. He hadn’t actually left it entirely; even while working 24-hour shifts as a fireman, he kept the mason business going. His father, a builder and master bricklayer, started the business after WWII. When Richard got out of the service, where he served in the U.S. Marine Corps aboard ship from 1974 to 1980, he joined the company.
Richard (L) reviews the plan for the new building with future General Foreman Robert Schaniel Jr., who has been with the town of Kent for 36 years.
“I had a knack for stonework,” he said, “so my dad kept me working with the local Italian stonemasons.”
The bar’s owner, who was a FDNY captain, encouraged him to take the fire department test. His high score earned him a spot in 1986. After retiring from the department, he ran for Putnam County legislator from Kent. He served two terms, the last as chairman — but soon discovered he didn’t like politics. “The people are not honest.” To this day, government rules remain his least favorite aspect of his job. continued on page 26 from page 9
A Tortured Path
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Colorful Roads When Richard took office, the average age of his fleet was 24 years. “During our first storm, we had six trucks out. It was like Junkyard Wars.”
While politics wasn’t a good fit for him, it prepared the lifetime resident of Putnam County for his role as highway superintendent. So did his six-year stint in the Marines. His father signed him up at age 17. “It was the best thing I ever did,” he said. “It straightened me out.” Fighting Spirit While stationed in the Middle East and Europe, Richard joked that “all the fighting I did was in bars.” He would bring that fighting spirit, as well as his military discipline and fire department work ethic, to the job of highway superintendent when he took over for retiring high school friend Tony Caravetta in 2014.Running for highway superintendent wasn’t a difficult decision. He was having trouble finding workers for the mason business and, as he said, “if you do anything too long, it gets boring.” Becoming highway superintendent was a lot harder. “I had to learn from scratch,” he said. He had a lot of work to do. “Tony was a good mechanic and welder, but he wouldn’t fight the town board. He was too nice of a person.” Richard inherited a mess in 2014 when he took over. The building was dirty. There were holes in the roofs, rotted walls and rats. Furthermore, the department “was on the cusp of the 21st century.” Kent was stuck in a time warp, he said, as it transitioned from a rural farm town into a commuter hub of New York City people moving north … and bringing their mindset with them. It set Richard’s agenda. Cleanliness is important to the former Marine. He began by cleaning the kitchen, scrubbing the refrigerator and bathrooms and emptying the trash. Later, he’d remodel the kitchen and add a locker room and bunk room, since the crew can spend as long as three days there during snowstorms. During those storms, he makes chili, soup or breakfast, like they did at the firehouse. “It brings everyone together. If the bosses care about them, the guys work better.” He showed his crew he cared by fighting with the town board to secure new equipment and facility upgrades. “In my opinion, the previous board treated my guys like second-class citizens,” he said. “It was disgraceful.”Itwasone of many battles he’d wage against the town board. “My department is full of talent,” he said. “I cannot say enough good things about my crew. If you put us on an island, we could build a small town within a year.”
The department’s “General Patton” marches during the town’s Christmas Parade. from page 22 continued on page 28
(L-R, back row): John Kohnken, MEO; Timothy Tharas, MEO; Timothy Kilker, MEO; and Lucas Kilker, seasonal worker. (L-R, front row): Troy Chadwick, CEO; Sean Daly, crew chief; Robert Herde, CEO; and Dylan Tharas, seasonal worker.
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Building for Success
During his first February as highway superintendent, Richard said the salt supply was set on Mafia Block with a canvas covering. “It collapsed, so we had an open pile the rest of the winter.” He discovered it was the third time it had happened. He also found out the town was supposed to build a building, but the board didn’t get around to it. Richard addressed that by building a dome enclosure in 2015.While the original main highway garage, built in 1968, is being reskinned — roof, siding, insulation — he added on to it so he could move his office out of the utility closet. “We did the stone, concrete, block and brick work ourselves, which saved a lot of money.”
“Rock salt is ruining wells and waterways,” Richard said, “and it only works to certain temperatures [-6 F].” They use a 50/50 mix of salt and sand, but then they have to sweep up the sand. “There are a lot of environmentalists in the area. Cornell University has a roads program that looks for alternatives.”
28 Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 Discouraged by the lack of a fleet replacement program and a building that was falling down, he began updating the fleet. Today, he said, the department has a modern fleet. To maintain it, he instituted an extensive PM schedule for each vehicle, as well as a fleet replacement program.As part of this modernization, he bought a truck at an army surplus auction.“Our General Patton was a U.S. Army Freightliner all-wheel-drive tankHeretriever.”usesitto haul trailers carrying their paver, excavator, winch and water tank for paving … and for parades. He also purchased a smaller truck now named the Col. Ludington after the father of 16-year-old Sybil, an American Revolutionary war hero who made an all-night ride through Putnam County to alert people that British forces were marching on Danbury, Conn., to burn it. He also converted three one-ton Army trailers to use as beet juice/brine trailers. Like many highway departments, Kent sprays the roads with brine before snowstorms. However, for environmental reasons, since they’re located in a New York City Department of Environmental Protection watershed, they switched to beet juice, which has de-icing qualities but deposits no salt into the wells and waterways.
In addition to the main office addition and salt dome with 1,400-ton capacity, they built a four-sectioned concrete material storage bin with a roof for stone, sand and millings.
Current General Foreman Herbert (Lewie) Strickland (L), who has been with the Kent highway department for almost 40 years, stands with Richard T Othmer Jr., highway superintendent of the town of Kent.
There’s also an auxiliary highway garage on the west side of town, built in 1937. This stone garage has a salt shed that holds an additional 300 tons, which crews need to keep the 216 lane mi. (16 of them dirt) and 14 bridges clear in the winter. Each of the 16 plow routes takes about 3-1/2Hishours.crew is currently working on a new 180 x 40 building to get more trucks under cover. They did the site work, dug the footings and constructed a 500 by 15 by 8 ft. concrete block retaining wall. He expects it to be completed by the end of 2022. continued on page 32 from page 26
The beet juice de-icing phenomenon was discovered in France during WWII. Richard said General Patton noticed the de-icing properties of beets on frozen fields. Today, the federal government uses it on military bases.Richard gets his supply from the Carmel Highway Superintendent Mike Simone, with whom he grew up. “I drove Mike crazy my first couple years in office, always asking for advice and direction.” Beet juice may turn the roads red temporarily, but he firmly believes it’s the wave of the future.
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Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 31 We offer recovers for your existing torn or tattered building along with a full line of new buildingsfabrictoo. Contact us today for all of your fabric building needs! Year-Round Solution for Salt Storage Contact Us TODAY www.EagleAssociates.us(315)655-0644 Apex and Magnum Series Buildings Corrosion resistant salt storage buildings, that store and protect salt from the elements, while reducing caking and runoff. Featuring optimal operating height to maximize cubic storage space, while minimizing the overall cost per ton stored. New Building in , N New Building in NY New Building in , NY
Richard bought this truck at an army surplus auction and calls it “our General Patton.” It was a U.S. Army Freightliner and is the department’s main mover and retriever.
Culverts
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Right People for the Job In addition to working on the new lean-to, Richard’s crew also is working on a major bridge replacement of a 1930-era bridge/dam on Lake Louise. To accomplish all this work, Richard relies on a sizeable crew of 28 full-time employees and four part-time seasonal laborers. Staff includes: Angela Verity, payroll clerk/office manager; • Herbert (Lewie) Strickland, general foreman and right-hand man; Robert Schaniel Jr., crew chief; • Sean Daly, crew chief; • Nick Mancuso, municipal repairs manager; Fred Verity, lead automotive mechanic; Jaclyn LoPiccolo, municipal repairs secretary; Six construction equipment operators; Nine motor equipment operators; One structural welder/MEO; and One laborer.
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It’s even more satisfying when he can save the town some of their $4.2 million budget (plus $441,770.38 CHIPS and bonding). Initially, he had intended to contract out this work, but when he got quotes priced at $800,000, he decided to put his crew to the test. “We did them ourselves for $125,000 to $130,000 each.” Seen here is the front of the 1968 building, which is about to be re-skinned. The left side is the fieldstone office addition the department did itself. from page 28 continued on page 44
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Since he knows a lot of the local contractors, he’s been able to hire some talented workers.
Assembling a good crew is another of Richard’s accomplishments during his tenure. Approximately 50 percent of his workforce is new. “I had some negative, miserable guys, but they’re gone now.” He said that he “cleaned house” through retirements, unable to simply fire people because they’re unionized. Instead, he put them where they were the most effective until they retired.
“Angela Verity runs my office and does a great job monitoring my budget, letting me know what I can and cannot do,” Richard said. “She saves the town thousands every year,” unbeknownst to the board. So does Nick Mancuso, who Richard said, “could find a part for a flying saucer if one landed here.”
•
Six of the employees technically work for the town board — repairing police cars and other vehicles — but follow the highway department’s schedule and work in their buildings Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with the rest of the crew. They fall under highway command during storms.
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Other work Richard and his team have completed consists of several box culverts. In fact, he said his best day on the job was when they completed their first major box culvert in the NYCDEP watershed. “I like big jobs,” he added. “Completing a bridge/culvert job is very satisfying.”
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“It’s like putting together a baseball team,” he said. “I’ve got some experienced guys in their 50s, but I’ve also got a young welder and several younger, motivated MEOs. I can’t have everyone retiring at the same time, so I have the older guys train the young guys.”
Today, he said his crew is “first rate — a balance of talent, young and old, with a lot of ‘spirit de corps.’” Together, they have completed a number of projects, including updating the main office, installing the new salt shed and materials bins, building the fieldstone office extension, repairing or replacing 10 bridge culverts in the NYCDEP watershed, and updating the fleet. Richard counts on their expertise. “I’m not a mechanic or machine operator,” he said. “My job is to get the proper machinery and get good operators.”Whenhe’s considering purchasing new equipment, he sends some of his crew to look at it and give their opinions since they know what they’re looking at.
Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 33 WELCOME TO CASEY’S TRUCK SALVAGE WORLD OVER 35 YEARS IN THE TRUCK PARTS BUSINESS WWW.CASEYSTRUCKSALVAGE.COM DIESEL ENGINES > Casey’s sells pre-run take-outs. Plus we have a wide variety of gasoline engines for medium and light duty REBUILDS > Casey’s specializes in heavy duty rear ends and can help with any differential questions you Casey’shave! rebuilds Transmissions, Transfer Cases and PTOs! Our combined experience is over 200 years!!!
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It Takes a Town Kent has shared service agreements with Putnam County, NYSDOT Region 8, every town in Putnam County and East Fishkill, Pawling and Red Hook in Duchess County. “We work as one big team,” Richard said. Having grown up in nearby Mahopac, Richard has an extended network of contacts throughout Putnam County, making cooperative ventures easier to achieve. Underscoring his extensive network of contacts, Richard mentioned that Theresa Burke, the Red Hook highway superintendent graduated from Mahopac High School with him in 1974. “When we attend the Cornell Local Roads school and sit next to each other in class, we laugh, because we were doing the same thing 50 years ago.”Similarly, Russ Goff, highway superintendent in neighboring Patterson, went to North Salem High School with Richard’s wife. He also puts his trust in the local residents.
44 Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022
In this instance, Richard encouraged the residents to do the fighting for him. “I gave out [the town board’s] cell phone numbers and told people to call them and ask for money to pave the roads. Give me the money, equipment and men and I will fix the whole town!”
The Miller Hill Box Culvert bridge replacement project included five concrete culverts, 30,000 lbs. each, and the crew also built a cofferdam, all in house. Richard received a quote for the project of $825,000; he and his crew did it for $135,000.
Named after an early settler, Kent lies just 50 mi. north of New York City, amidst rugged hills surrounded by lakes. Settled by Europeans in the mid-18th century, Kent was part of the Frederickstown Precinct chartered in 1772. Considered a safe place to raise a family, Kent is home to approximately 14,000 residents.
Many of those residents commute to New York City, so they want the roads clear, Richard said. “Tony [the previous highway superintendent] had a hard time from the board [to get money to fix the roads.]”
An added bonus came in the form of improved morale. “There’s no municipality mentality here,” Richard said with pride. “I told them we’re not a municipality; we’re a construction company. They’re builders; they’re not just filling pot holes.” Tackling the box culverts has given him the confidence to start looking ahead to other projects, such as four critical bridge replacements that were originally constructed in NYCDEP watershed in the 1920s and 1930s.
The crew is currently working on a new 180 x 40 building to get more trucks under cover. They did the site work, dug the footings and constructed a 500- by 15 by 8-ft. concrete block retaining wall. Richard expects it to be completed by the end of 2022. from page 32 continued on page 52
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Richard brought a fighting spirit, as well as his military discipline and fire department work ethic, to the job of highway superintendent when he took over for retiring high school friend Tony Caravetta in 2014. Seen here is his Kent highway department “Seabee” sign.
Richard has never shied away from engaging in battle with the bipartisan town board when he thought the town needed something. Considering his military background, it should come as no surprise that he’s not afraid to stand up for what he believes in. “I just tell the truth,” he said. “Most boards consist of people that do not understand construction, so you must be able to convey your needs to them in layman’s terms.” The area is steeped in military correctness. Just across the Hudson River sits the United States Military Academy, more commonly known as West Point. Originally built as a fort due to its strategic vantage point, it’s the oldest of the five American service academies. In 1801, President Thomas Jefferson directed that it should be established; it was founded one year Today,later.cadets seek an education in order to be commissioned into the U.S. Army.
continued on page 58
from page 44
52 Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022
Military Might
The mechanic shop consists of (L-R, back row) Nick Mancuso, automotive service manager; Kyle Ulich, mechanic; Matt Kiernan, temporary mechanic; and Fred Verity, lead automotive mechanic, and (L-R, front row) Jaclyn LoPiccolo, municipal repairs clerk, and Nick Matos, mechanic.
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Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 57 850
Lewie runs the show around here. I call him the Sergeant Major. I tell him which jobs need to be done and he takes it from there. “A lot of the guys worked with Tony,” Richard added. “I consulted him a lot. I lost a source of information on the history of the roads. It was like an era of the town died.” from page 52 continued on page 66
The couple has three children: Thomas is the port engineer for the USS New York LPD-21 and a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy reserve, married to Melissa (nee Alwardt) from Rochester. They have a daughter, Lorraine, and are expecting another this summer. Jayne, an RN at Memorial Sloan Kettering in Manhattan, is married to Sean Gallen, a Yonkers fireman. Alex is a former Navy Seal who runs the nonprofit “Guardian Revival” for veterans. Rounding out the family are two standard Schnauzers, Trooper and Nellie.
58 Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022
The main yard crew consists of (back row) Steven Schonfeld, MEO/welder; Harry Kelly, seasonal worker; Tom Casey, MEO; Carl Snow, MEO; Peter Erickson, MEO; Ryan Brunelle, MEO; Bob Donohue, MEO; Tyler McMath, MEO; and Larry Borg, laborer. (Front row) Dave Churchill Jr., CEO; Pat Esposito, CEO; Stanley Robinson, CEO; Veronica Kelly, seasonal worker; Lew Strickland, general foreman; Richard Othmer Jr., highway superintendent; Angela Verity, payroll clerk/confidential secretary; Robert Schaniel Jr., crew chief; and Robert Ulmer, CEO.
Hiking the Hills of Hudson River Valley
Another tourist attraction is the 180-mi. Adirondack trail, which runs through Adirondack Park, the nation’s largest wilderness park outside Alaska. Formed by glaciers, the park features numerous lakes and ponds that not only offer opportunities for boating and fishing, but also create a dramatic backdrop for hikers.
Hiking is one of Richard’s favorite leisure activities, along with bike riding and swimming — and, when he was younger, triathlons. “I don’t hunt,” said the former Marine. “After 9/11, I don’t like to see creatures die.” He does, however, enjoy the marksmanship and competition inherent in skeet shooting. Come September, Richard will celebrate his 40th wedding anniversary with wife, Irene, a local girl who went to North Salem high school and the Rhode Island School of Design before launching a business in industrial design. She now works as an art teacher.
“Tony was a fast half-back. You could not catch him!” His worst day on the job was when Tony died. “He’d been retired a couple years by then,” Richard said. “He had a hard time with the town board but was best friends with Lewie Strickland, my general foreman.
Richard’s roots go deep here. He played high school football against his predecessor at the highway department (Mahopac vs. Carmel High).
Famous graduates include President Dwight Eisenhower, President Grant, Robert E. Lee, William T. Sherman, Stonewall Jackson and George Armstrong Custer, who finished last in his class. West Point also is known as the first American college to offer an accredited civil engineering program. Its technical curriculum became a model for other engineering schools. Tourists enjoy visiting its central campus, the entirety of which is a national landmark, with numerous monuments and historic Normanstyle buildings constructed of gray and black granite.
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Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 65 Subscribe today to Superintendent’s Profile SUBSCRIPTIONS: CARDMEMBER’S NAME COMPANY NAME CITYSTREET_________________________________________________________________________STATEZIPPHONENO.TYPEOFBUSINESSEMAILADDRESSCheckEnclosedVISAMASTERCARDAmericanExpressCARDNUMBERExp.Date(Mo./Yr.)SIGNATUREOFAUTHORIZEDCARDHOLDERSubscriptionsareavailabletoallinterestedpersonsatacostof$25peryearwithintheUSA.Tosubscribe,sendyourcheck,voucherormoneyorderfor$25totheaddressbelow.Singleissues$3.00each One Year $25 (within United States & Puerto Rico Only) 361 Shoemaker Rd. • Mohawk, NY 13407 WOOD WASTE PROBLEMS? We think we can save you money. GRINDING • SCREENING TRUCKING • HEAVY HAULING Our equipment is mobile, we can recycle your town’s wood waste at your site. Please call for a quote. 3400 Court Street, Syracuse, NY 13206 315-463-1170 CLIFT N RECYCLING Inc. Mulch, Soil and Compost Pick-up or Delivery AvailablePiggyback of the Onondaga county contract bid price for woodprocessingwaste MOHAWKFREIGHTLINERVALLEY 108SD’S 114SD’S 122SD’S PLOW & VOCATIONAL MODELS AVAILABLE Various New York State and National Contracts Available 2-7 Yr Govt Financing New: M2-106’s, M2112’s, 108SD’s, 114SD’s (No Bidding Required) “Real People Answer The Phone” CHECK OUR PRICES INDEPENDENT, FAST FRIENDLY SERVICE WE WORK WITH ALL BODY BUILDERS Now reserving Production Slots for 2022 on 114 SD’s, 108SD’s, M2 -106 112’s % Cascadia’s All dates coordinated with bodybuilders equipment availability MOHAWK VALLEY FREIGHTLINER 703 Oriskany Blvd., PO Box 201, Yorkville, (Utica) New York 13495 866-830-1463 • 315-736-3330 • 315-736-3287 fax Rickrwoods@mvfreightliner.comwww.mvfreightliner.comWoodsSales&Engineering
In addition to the main office addition and salt dome with 1,400-ton capacity, they built a four-sectioned concrete material storage bin with a roof for stone, sand and millings. from page 58
66 Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022
A New Era Richard, a member of both the Duchess and Putnam Highway Superintendent associations, said he sought the position because he knew what needed to be done. But, in accomplishing his goals, he said, “I fought with everybody.” Undecided if he’ll run one more time after his term expires on 12/31/26, the 65-year-old is considering “maybe one more easy term,” since he’s “done nothing but work hard since I gotButhere.”he feels he’s at a turning point in his life, with many of his friends passing away. So, the desire to get a boat is growing stronger. “I would like to get a job on a tour boat in the Hudson River,” he said. “I always want to be doing something.”Beforehe goes, he hopes to “finish up the existing capital and fleet improvements and finally function as a normal highway department.” He said he also could use a conveyor belt for the salt shed and landfill. Reflecting, Richard said, “Things are going great here. I will only be able to enjoy all the facility and fleet resurrection for a couple years before I retire — hopefully, seven years from now. I do not need political aggravation at this stage in my Wheneverlife.”hedoes decide to trade in his superintendent job for that boat, he hopes his legacy will be bringing Kent from the cusp of the 21st century fully into it. Even as he takes a bow for that accomplishment, he acknowledged that there’s farther to go. “Future superintendents will have to know how to use technology.” One of the hardest parts of his job was applying for FEMA money after a hurricane. “I had to have my finance manager fill out the application. I did get a BRIDGE NY grant, but I needed help from a grant writer and a consulting engineer.” Nevertheless, he assessed, Kent is “moving ahead — with a good crew and good equipment.” And he’s not bored, yet. P (All photos courtesy of the town of Kent highway department.)
Pat Esposito (L), CEO, and Herbert (Lewie) Strickland, general foreman, perform paving work in the town of Kent.
Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 67
68 Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 New York State Contract Information 60 International Blvd. Brewster, NY 10509 Phone: 845-278-7766 Fax: Email:845-278-4431sales@wtractor.com Heavy Equipment Rental OGS #PC67218 OGS Contract Number PC67265 Skid Steer/Track Loaders, Mini Excavators, Tractor Loader, Backhoes HGC – EM06-17 Wheel Loaders New Holland Construction Compact Tractors, Full Sized Tractors/Implements New Holland Agriculture Hitachi TAPOLLYY ANNKS LAVEASYTOCLEAN,ALLSIZES VAAILAAB USEDFOR: TRSTORRAAGE& RAANSFEROF HERBICIDES,PESTICIDES&WAATTER,MOREBANJO BLE OCLSASALTBRINE,CustomBuilt D CustomHoseforStoragSprayinge-IcingEquipmente,fTransfeerandgApplication SSPUMPS ” SELFPRIMINGPU & Belting 2”S5.5 BANJOCo gp MP POLLYY PUMPS ELF-PRIMING HPHONDAGX160,PUMP200GPM OuCam-Leverlins wwwwwww.centralequipmentll1.800.706.5060c 12 or 115VOLT, 21 GP .com M
Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 69 We Service All makes of Packers • www.hackerspackers.com • New & Used Packer Parts We are on the Onondaga County Contract
70 Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • September 2022 FOR ADVERTISING INFO CALL 800/988-1203 ADVERTISERS INDEX When Purchasing Equipment,Trucks,Supplies & Services remember to supportyour Profile Advertisers! A MONTANO COMPANY 60 ABSOLUTE AUCTIONS & REALTY INC 14 ADMAR SUPPLY CO INC 16,17 ALTA EQUIPMENT 12,13 AMERICAN EQUIPMENT LLC 30 AMERICAN SHORING 62 AUCTIONS INTERNATIONAL 11 BOBCAT OF SARATOGA 67 BRADCO SUPPLY CO 62 BUYERS PRODUCTS CO 3 CALEDONIA DIESEL 34 CASEY’S TRUCK SALVAGE INC 33 CATERPILLAR - NY DEALERS 36,37 CENTRAL EQUIPMENT LLC 68 CHEMUNG SUPPLY CORP ..................................15 CLEARSPAN STRUCTURES ..............................29 CLIFTON RECYCLING INC ..................................65 CLINTON TRACTOR/CAPITAL TRACTOR ..........35 CONWAY BEAM TRUCK GROUP ..........................5 EAGLE ASSOCIATES OF CAZENOVIA ..............31 EMPIRE RADIATOR SERVICES 64 ENVIRONMENTAL EQUIPMENT SALES 51 FALCON ASPHALT REPAIR EQUIPMENT 69 FITZSIMMONS HYDRAULICS INC 68 FIVE STAR EQUIPMENT 50 GEORGE & SWEDE SALES & SVC 53 GRASSLAND EQUIPMENT 41 HACKER’S PACKERS INC 69 HENDERSON PRODUCTS 10 HITACHI 45 HYBRID BUILDING SOLUTIONS LLC 19 HYUNDAI CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT 47 KEIL EQUIPMENT CO INC 30 KELLSPORT PRODUCTS 30 KEPNER EQUIPMENT INC ..................................30 KEYSTONE CONCRETE PRODUCTS 39 LAGASSE WORKS/HARDER SPREADER 27 LORUSSO HEAVY EQUIPMENT 49 MALVESE EQUIPMENT CO INC ..........................60 MARSHALL MACHINERY 56 MIDLAND ASPHALT MATERIALS INC 23 MOHAWK LIFTS LLC 46 MOHAWK VALLEY FREIGHTLINER ....................65 MONROE TRACTOR 34,54 MONROE TRUCK EQUIPMENT 67 MOTRIM INC 21,57 MURPHY EXCAVATING CORP ............................50 NAVISTAR INC ........................................................8 NYS ASSOC OF TOWN SUPTS OF HWYS 48 PROFILE PUBLICATIONS 2,38,40,42,43,60,64,65 ROBERT H FINKE & SONS INC 61 SENECA MINERAL CO ........................................62 STEPHENSON EQUIPMENT INC 24,25 STEPP MANUFACTURING 55 SUIT-KOTE CORP 59 SUMMIT HANDLING SYSTEMS ..........................54 TENCO USA INC 71 TRACEY ROAD EQUIPMENT 6,7 TRI TANK CORP 56 UTICA GENERAL PETERBILT ............................29 VALLEY FAB & EQUIPMENT ..............................64 VIKING CIVES INC 72 WESTCHESTER TRACTOR INC 63,68 WINTER EQUIPMENT CO ....................................20 YACANOS’ GRADALL SALES SVC ....................46 ADVERTISERS INDEX
Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • August 2022 71 WE EVERE RYWWHHEREARE WE ARE OTENC Fandiceremovaletlineooducullprequipment snowormancehigh perff 7474315262 teGlenn Plais ed contractsailable on multAv ork sw Yocal NesuLpport aftermaFirst-rate truck eqSuperior al ee rand ic chasingoop purtiple c networktributione distta et parts and servicerk tallationt insuipmen 46366076 SteelSales 7 315 2 taateeork sYoNe reeinEveeryvwherwYt t 3 s 585 Cyncon 2500533 qquipment 1675 660 257 o SupplyBraadcnE 9340 458537 Shane Chapman eeldingAmthorW 4 67 6 7120631244 aakooun Suffoolk C ty Br 0 ke A.OTEN C.WW 3040 |Phone: 585 346evid, Lak5700S.LimaR TRIES OINCTENINDUS C W C ax: 586 | F362ee: 1 800 808-oll frT 35UnitedStateslle (NY) 14480-06 ts DeposaervicSales | S e | US P rt 298285 346s 5768 584577
72 Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • August 2022
