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Fishkill Road Repairs Completion Date Again in Question
Allotted monies spent elsewhere
by Margaret Sternberg
Repairs on Fishkill Road in Philipstown may - or may not - start in about two weeks and when they will be completed could not be ascertained based upon somewhat contradictory information Legislator Vinny Tamagna verbally hammered out of Commissioner of Highways Harold Gary at the July 24, 2007 meeting of the Legislature's Physical Services Committee.
In a blistering series of questions, Tamagna elicited the reasons as to why the project had been held up in the past and, until Tamagna made it clear further delays would not be accepted, what would have been excuses for future delays.
Pointing out that work appeared to have been started, a contractor found and a survey done, Tamagna asked for a start date, to which Mr. Gary responded that in his 17 years "that's the first time we've ever reported to a town when we're going to start... we'll do the best we can," adding that one of the Committee members, Legislator Tony Hay, had recently heard County Executive Bob Bondi ask whether there was enough money available for the project and Mr. Gary had said there wasn't, but that state of affairs would not prevent the Highway Department from starting the project.
Mr. Gary continued that they planned to start the project by putting in all of the drainage, adding that "We will not go on to Fishkill Road, probably, until '08, but the project will start in '07." He said that Route 9 and Fishkill Road would be connected but that work would start on Route 9 to prevent traffic problems.
Under questioning, Mr. Gary ascribed to the DEC two years worth of delays and three months of delays to the DEP. Approvals had been received by the county from the two agencies in the last two weeks. Tamagna, upon hearing this, demanded every letter concerning all approvals from all relevant parties, saying that he wanted to know the timeline, adding "This is not acceptable...find a way to get this project done this year."
Tamagna also addressed Mr. Gary's acknowledgement of lack of funds, saying "This is something that Anne Nichter and the people of the town of Philipstown asked you directly about last year. They said they heard a rumor that the money was spent somewhere else, and that we didn't get the money. This makes everybody look very foolish." Mr. Gary then talked about having the money to do other projects, such as Peekskill Hollow Road but "we do not have it now," explaining the monies were adequate when originally granted in the 1990's but were now insufficient.
Growing increasingly exasperated, Mr. Gary finally explained that the funding had gone to fix the bottom of Peekskill Road, work on Lower and Upper Station Roads, and it had gone "all over Philipstown," adding that sidewalks had been put in, drainage had been added, and Fishkill Road had been raised. Mr. Gary added that other funds had also been used for Philipstown at the expense of other towns. Mr. Gary concluded that the Highway Department doesn't have enough money to get any project finished.
Although Tamagna said he understood, he also noted that until that evening, he had thought Fishkill Road would be finished in fall 2007. Mr. Gary said they are committed, at this point, to certain aspects of the Fishkill Road project: the grading and drainage. He again added that "we will not tie into the new road until 2008," at which point Tamagna again pointed out that Mr. Gary had said the money for Fishkill Road "was there" and that Gary had made statements to Philipstown and its residents guaranteeing the money was available.
Tamagna pointed out "Now, I'm hearing something different." Gary cut him off, saying "For the record…once we start...it will go to its conclusion." Tamagna responded, "It's a priority," demanding a date. Tamagna was told "shortly" and given a two week starting date that would involve the utility companies moving their lines to allow the highway crew to work, as well, putting equipment in the area to start digging trenches and do ground work.
Tamagna said he wanted the job finished and that it should be a "top priority," becoming angry as he spoke about a recent accident on the road and declaring, "Find a way to get this project done this year." Mr. Gary said that he would try.
The August meeting of the Physical Services Committee will be posted on the PCN&R's website as soon as it becomes available.
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