UPDATED: As 5 p.m. Passes, Town Pushes Plow Deadline into the Night

Miss Taken February 12, 2013 at 03:09 am

You retired, k? Why wasn't 'I invited to the party?

Miss Taken February 12, 2013 at 03:11 am

35 years, k? Now THAT'S a miracle!!!

RJ February 12, 2013 at 05:03 am

Mistaken i obviously hit a nerve im sorry i offended some of ur family and friends that put my life in danger. Please tell them i hope they enjoy all that overtime money they made off the backs of smithtown taxpayers. Also tell your uncle vecchio and lover jorgenson that they did a great job, if u keep telling them that... eventually they will believe u.

Just saying February 12, 2013 at 05:14 am

PJ, she lied to you two very close people to her work the highway and her friend who is commenting also has someone close to her who works in the parks

Miss Taken February 12, 2013 at 05:16 am

You have some great eyesight RJ to be able to see the driver up in the truck texting. You are so full of yourself. And you have a huge chip on your shoulder to boot! You were a bad boy during your time with TOS weren't you?

Catherine S. February 12, 2013 at 01:15 pm

And jorgensen comment in newsday is pathetic. We know its politics but how do you explain your workers driving with plows up. He cant blame that on town hall.

Veteran Advocate February 12, 2013 at 04:41 pm

That was a very immature comment, RJ. Sorry that some of the people commenting on here need to stoop so low as to make disgusting remarks like yours. Very sad.

Mary Jane Bennett February 12, 2013 at 09:28 pm

Well it's Tuesday, Feb.12, at 4:30. The snow plows are everywhere looking for something to plow. Here hoping they're still available when the next snow hits us on Thursday.

Mike February 12, 2013 at 09:59 pm

I cannot believe the negativity and bashing the highway plowers are getting.
They are working thru a natural disaster that affected the tri state area. They do not determine manpower levels , I bet its safe to say the dept is half the size it was during the '78 blizzard,nor do they choose which equipment is purchased and used. Way to support your men , you bashers are pathetic.

robkoz February 12, 2013 at 10:08 pm

Actually this post is quite appropriate. To reward themselves for their incompetence I'm sure they'll give themselves a raise at our expense.

Ann February 12, 2013 at 11:27 pm

They'll probably all disappear again

Ann February 12, 2013 at 11:33 pm

You know Mike - everyone is entitled to their own opinion - you might not like or agree with them (in the case of RJ) but that is his opinion and he's entitled to voice it (and I also agree with him) - if everyone thought and expressed the same opnion we'd be like puppets - so let us have our say - no one is hurting anybody - thank you

FED UP 1 ! February 13, 2013 at 01:28 pm

Let's hope they settled whatever BS was going on behind the scenes with the town,before the next two storms! Were we out of sand & salt because I didn't see any being put down! Also how about the guys put the "PLOWS DOWN" this time when they are driving around aimlessly! I will be out in my 4wd getting truck numbers and reporting back here, because nobody can tell me that there was not a deliberate work slowdown at the taxpayers expense. Every business is short staffed now , that means the people that are lucky enough to still have a job have to pick up the slack & work a little harder. And by the way, most other jobs don't have the pension and benifits the TOS employees have!!! Let's stop the insanity before the whole system "implodes" and our quality of life goes down the "dumper" and taxes unbearable! I remain....Fed Up 1

Catherine S. February 13, 2013 at 01:37 pm

Ditto that.

FED UP 1 ! February 13, 2013 at 02:40 pm

We need a mini- taxpayers revolt in TOS and demand some straight answers....NOW! I remain....Fed Up 1

Local February 13, 2013 at 02:50 pm

Yeah, revolt your 10% portion of your tax bill. Spend your time and energy at your school board meeting....71%

2th L8dy February 13, 2013 at 02:54 pm

At this point, I for one am thankful they passed with their plows up - it would have meant I had to go out there again and plow what they put in my driveway. The street is passable and it's melting daily.

Ann February 13, 2013 at 04:39 pm

I'm in agreement with you on everything - people on this site were complaining that these guys are putting in 14 hours a day (that was for 2 days maybe 3 days - bit deal that is their job. Just as an FYI - I was putting in 12 hours a day 5 days a week for 10 years (55 hours) at my job and before that working in the city (NYC) I was putting in 60 hours a week before I retired last year, so I don't have sympathy for them. Anyway they are not on street with shovels doing it they are sitting in their warm trucks pushing a button. No sympathy from me!!!!

FED UP 1 ! February 13, 2013 at 04:45 pm

Yes, at this point I agree. I was referring to the the few plows I saw at the early stages of the storm! As far as the 10% & 71% I understand the tax base is split up. I'm just saying as taxpayers in general, we need to show up in numbers at some board meeting and demand some answers! Don't forget all the people in power currently couldn't give a rat's a-- about whats going on now,because it will not affect
their pensions or benifits one little bit!!! We should all take a more active & positive roll in shaping in shaping the future of our town,which used to be a beautiful & affordable place to live and raise a family. Now....NOT SO MUCH!! I remain....Fed Up 1

P. J. Miller February 13, 2013 at 05:31 pm

In the Town of Brookhaven the Acting Highway Superintendent Michael Murphy is stepping down today - and Highway Superintendent Ed Romaine is back from his vacation to Jamaica. Murphy was NOT in during the storm told NEWS 12 he had a family emergency out of town and then later News 12 found out he was home with a toothache. Needless to say there was no one at the helm and that is why Brookhaven had so many problems with snow removal. So what was Town of Smithtown's excuse? They should also step down- If they cannot do the job that they were put in office - they should just resign and let's have someone that is willing to roll up his/her sleeves and do the job they were put in office to do. I understand that it is difficult to push 30"+/- of snow BUT they really dragged it on. They should have closed Main St on Saturday not Tuesday night. And they should have asked the state for equipment on Saturday. It leads me to believe that since the union contract for the workers renews each Jan 1st - either they did not get what they wanted or they are still negotiating which could be another reason for the slow down.
As residents we should demand the truth and not the BS that we usually get. What was the real reason are streets were not plowed. The independent contractors were willing to do the job - but they do not have payloaders. Communication is key. We were not informed.

P. J. Miller February 13, 2013 at 05:33 pm

Not double time they get time and a half.

P. J. Miller February 13, 2013 at 05:40 pm

also keep in mind that the more OT they make it gets tacked on to their pension. and if there are guys out there looking to retire it only boosts their pension. do you think that they foreman, vecchio and jorgensen are driving around to see who is plowing during a snow storm? No way. They are home and assume that they workers are out there working. Right. Like they are during the weekday hiding behind shopping centers or in one of the parks. 11:30AM you can always find one somewhere. 2PM another time they are hiding. The DEPT HEADS need to get in their town cars and drive around!!!! Again we need a RESIDENT COUNCIL so the town board can answer our questions. It is our town - we need leadership that works and answers.

FED UP 1 ! February 13, 2013 at 07:08 pm

I'm glad I'm not the only one that knows this debacle was deliberate! Stay tuned becuause I will be out tonight in my 4wd gathering intel and reporting back here! Let's keep fighting the good fight to save our town and quality of life in TOS! Thank you ,in advance for your support! Remember : Together Each Accomplish More!!! I remain...Hopeful

Mike February 14, 2013 at 03:39 pm

To Ann , really . Not hurting anyone ! I read every comment . The bashing of your HWY workers is just sad. I'm posting that as my opinion , not just for fun . Never a puppet.

knee jerk February 25, 2013 at 04:38 am

Exactly: Do the math. Vecchio is in since the mid seventies? 38 years? Retired at 1/2 pay from NYC detective job? (unless he hurt his trigger finger) Maybe 30 grand a year back then. He's getting maybe 15 to 20 grand a year now. No wonder he won't (can't) retire.

knee jerk February 25, 2013 at 04:48 am

@Vick w: How long have you lived in this town? Nesconset (along with Hauppauge, Commack, St James, Kings Park) is unimportant. Smithtown proper, that dirty little stretch from the Bull to rt111 is all that matters. You can bet that was nicely plowed, early and often.

knee jerk February 25, 2013 at 04:50 am

@CMD: Just be happy you don't wrap your SUV around anything.

knee jerk February 25, 2013 at 04:52 am

Now if they can just plow out the rest of the "Knights of the Roundtable"

knee jerk February 25, 2013 at 04:56 am

@Catherine S: Your nephew isn't Parker Schnabel from the series "Goldrush" is he?

knee jerk February 25, 2013 at 05:31 am

@ANN: The reason you were putting in 60 hours a week before you retired last year was probably to "pad" your pension (you know, the last two years "count" for your salary figure on your pension). And if not, you had a lousy job.