HURLEY – Town Highway Superintendent Mike Shultis says the town board is holding his projects hostage by not signing his original document enumerating the projects and costs.
He said the board wants to modify it, which is not within its purview and that is holding up the work.
“I am just baffled by their dereliction of duty that they don’t understand the laws of New York State – the highway law and the general municipal law – that they are dragging this thing. In essence, they are holding the highway department crew that does an excellent job as pawns in their little political stunt,” he told Mid-Hudson News.
Shultis said that is delaying the work, but Jeremy Schiffres, the town public information officer, said that is “simply untrue and misleading.”
He said no money for repairs made by the highway department is being held back “and the superintendent is fully aware that paving projects will be considered (and likely approved) individually as they become necessary.”
Schiffres said the only thing holding up repairs and other non-paving work at this point is the superintendent not signing the agreement approved by the town board on Wednesday, May 3.
Shultis said he has reported his concerns of what he believes are improper actions by the town board to the state comptroller’s office.
