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Landing Ave and Rose StreetWinter Storm 2016 is in the record book as one of the most significant storms in Long Island’s history. By the time the storm ended between 23 and 26 inches of snow blanketed Smithtown. The consensus seems to be that the Smithtown Highway Department did a wonderful job.
Supervisor Patrick Vecchio, in a phone coversation said, “highway workers did an excellent job. Superb work.” The Supervisor said he received three emails which were “extremly positive”. There were no complaints made to his office. According to the Supervisor, eighty town trucks and seventy private vehicles worked on snow removal. 2,300 lbs. of salt was used and 130 town employees worked through the weekend clearing the roadways. He also gave credit to employees at the Parks Department who are responsible for Smithtown’s buildings and grounds. Employees of the Parks Department worked clearing all town buildings and parking lots of snow. Unlike the highway department, which has a snow budget, the work done by Parks Department employees is not part of the snow budget.
Effective snow removal doesn’t just happen it requires a plan. Smithtown Highway Superintendent Robert Murphy said the department began their efforts before the storm began by sending out flyers to residents reminding them to remove cars, garbage cans and hoops from the roadways. Major roadways like Old Willets Path, Landing Ave., Lake Ave and Southern Blvd. were brined in advance of the snow. Workers began sanding and salting at 2 a.m. Saturday and did not finish until 6 p.m. Sunday. Murphy said, “Staff did a phenomenal job despite the 35-40 mph winds and white out conditions.”
Robert Murphy, dealing with his first snow storm since becoming the superintendent, said he was pleased and wanted to thank highway workers who he said worked hard for the residents. “It was a matter of pride in their work and in the department.”
Any complaints? Murphy said there were many positive comments and only a single complaint from a resident unhappy with a road not being cleared earlier.
Robert Murphy said the Highway Department is ready if there is another storm. To those who don’t want anymore snow this winter Murphy laughed and said, “from your mouth to God’s ears.”