Town Talks Drainage Issues

Riverhead Town's aging infrastructure is in need of a facelift.

So said Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter at a Thursday town board work session discussion regarding flooding and the need for new drainage.

Riverhead Town Highway Superintendent George "Gio" Woodson came before the town board to discuss flooding that happens on Hallock Street, near Roanoke Avenue in Polish Town. New paving is required, at a cost of approximately $250,000.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter said since he took office, the town has not invested in its aging infrastucture. "You don't have a paving budget," other than funds garnered each year from the state's Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program, Water said.

Although a number of sites in need of drainage repair were identified, work will begin at Hallock Street, with funds expected to come from the 2012 and 2013 budgets. 

All agreed the work is critically needed. "I'm tired of the phone calls," Woodson said.

Walter agreed, stating he had even received a call from Rep. Tim Bishop's office about residents who had called about flooding and drainage issues.

Councilwoman Jodi Giglio said, in light of the supervisor's concerns with "crumbing infrastructure," she'd like to put a dollar amount on all the drainage issues in town and bond for the funding; Walter said with the two percent tax levy cap, that was not possible.

Walter said an "exorbitant amount of money" is spent on outside engineers such as Melville-based H2M, when some some work could probably be done in-house. Not a lot of "oversight" is given to outside engineers, Walter added, and, while he said they do good work, the supervisor suggested, in the future, utilizing funds formerly used for consultants toward highway, sewer and water budgets.

Walter said the next step is to put the project out to bid.