Things may change at the Town of Parma Highway Department if voters approve Local Law #1 – 2016 on Election Day. If approved, the law would abolish the elected position of highway superintendent and create an appointed highway superintendent position in the town. Town Board members would make the appointment and they have stated the goal of the change would be to form a department of public works managed by a director in the future.
“The Town Board feels strongly that the residents of Parma would benefit by making the change to an appointed highway superintendent,” Supervisor Jim Smith says. “The biggest advantage would be the ability to advertise for the position, look at resumes, and interview the most qualified individual. Then we can establish goals and have accountability. We think we will get more applicants for a non-political position.”
Town Board members approved the law on August 16 following a lengthy public hearing. The vote was 4-1 with Supervisor Smith and council members Gary Comardo, Jim Roose and Don Barlow voting yes. Council member Kyle Mullen voted no. The law must now be approved by voters through the mandatory referendum on Election Day.
According to meeting minutes, Councilperson Comardo said before the vote that he felt the change would be the, “most efficient arrangement and the best thing for the town.”
Councilperson Barlow said other towns have made the move to a director of public works. “Larger towns have moved toward this and Parma is not as small as we used to be. As we have grown we are experiencing growing pains, but felt this is the right direction to go,” the August 16 minutes state.
Both Supervisor Smith and Councilperson Roose said it is important to put the issue before the voters to decide, and Councilperson Mullen cited a recent report to the town from the EPA, and concerns over an oil water separator which had been purchased and obtained, but was still not operational by the August 16 meeting.
In a letter to the Suburban News published October 23, 2016, Parma Town Board members stated the change is necessary now to meet fiscal and regulatory demands on municipalities, as well as improve accountability to local citizens and to meet state and federal regulatory requirements. “An elected highway superintendent does not answer to the town board, and therefore sets tasks and priorities that can be inconsistent with fiscal constraints, regulatory record-keeping and public need,” the letter stated.
During the August public hearing on the proposed change, residents who spoke expressed concerns. Most said they were not pleased that an elected position would be taken away if the highway superintendent were appointed.
According to the meeting minutes, resident Angelo Bianchi said he felt an elected highway superintendent is more responsible to the public.
In a statement released by the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways (NYSAOTSOH), President Michael Boesel said the organization opposes the change.
“An elected highway superintendent works directly for the residents of the town, they are essentially their boss … an appointed highway superintendent means residents have no direct say on who holds, what is in most people’s opinion, the most important full time position in their town,” the NYSAOTSOH statement says.
Parma Supervisor Jim Smith says over the past 30-plus years, there has typically been only a single candidate for the post. On only one occasion was there more than one candidate for highway superintendent on the ballot, he said.
If approved, the law would take effect in January of 2018. The term of current Parma Highway Superintendent Brian Speer ends at the end of 2017. Town leaders have said if the change is voted down, things will continue as they are now. If voters approve the change, the town board would work with Civil Service to seek qualified applicants and appoint an individual in January of 2018.
The referendum will appear as Proposition No. 1 on the November 8 General Election ballot. A sample ballot is posted on the Town of Parma website.
