A power washer malfunction in one of the town’s highway buildings about a month ago left a very large clean-up job.
Vincent Orlando, Southold Town Highway Superintendent, said that the power washer basically melted, spreading black soot all over the building. READ
About 200 PSEG-Long Island customers are without power as heavy, wet snow continues to fall during the nor’easter Tuesday afternoon. READ
Vincent Orlando
Occupation: Superintendent of Highways
Hamlet: Southold
Party lines: Republican, Conservative, Independence
About him: Mr. Orlando, 56, has been highway superintendent since 2014 and has been responsible for the daily oversight and duties of 35 employees.
His pitch: Mr. Orlando said that to him, the superintendent of highways is the most rewarding public servant position to have in a small town like Southold. He is motivated by the instant gratification the position provides. “Seeing results by solving a drainage issue when installing a drain today, and tomorrow it rains and the system installed works perfectly — that’s satisfaction,” he said. The feeling is the same when a winter storm is about to hit and citizens wake up to a plowed and sanded road for them to safely travel to work, school or home, he said.
In his words: “When you leave for the day then return and see your road has been resurfaced, it’s highway working hard for you.”
Gene Wesnofske
Occupation: Farmer
Hamlet: Cutchogue
Party lines: Democratic
About him: Mr. Wesnofske, 70, has been a vegetable farmer in Peconic for the last 50 years. He lives in Cutchogue with his wife of 38 years, Cheryl, and has five children and six grandchildren. He runs two farm stands and sells produce at 10 different farmers markets.
His pitch: Mr. Wesnofske has farmed in Southold Town for 50 years and his name is well-known throughout the town, he said. He said he is an honest, hardworking person who has worked long hours on his farm to succeed and that he will do the same for the people of Southold Town as their highway superintendent. He described himself as a person who gets along with people. He has employed a large number of people on his farm, so he knows how to manage employees. He said he has kept his farm going on a tight budget and will do the same with the highway department’s budget.
In his words: “I am a dedicated person and will get the job done right. I have a motto: Actions speak louder than words.”
For highway superintendent we endorse the incumbent, Vincent Orlando. His opponent, Gene Wesnofske, made the point at his editorial board with The Suffolk Times that Mr. Orlando had not done the smart thing and bought Army surplus trucks at greatly reduced prices. Asked for his response, Mr. Orlando said he had done just that. They can be seen parked in the highway department lot in Peconic.
Around noon Friday, the skies opened up for about 90 minutes, parking lots and basements flooded, lawns in the middle of a business district had “high tide marks” and a car even floated away.
The North Fork avoided any major damage overnight as a nor’easter swept across the region bringing heavy wind and rain, according to local officials. READ
As the vote to approve a Southold Town budget that would raise taxes more than 7.5 percent was called, board members expressed concerns. They said they understood the concerns of residents, but most said their hands were tied by a “dire set of circumstances,” largely the deteriorating state of some local roads. READ
Peconic Lane was closed for about an hour this morning as the Highway Department painted a blue stripe between the double yellow lines. READ
If Southold Town wants to make progress in repairing its deteriorating roads, the highway department will need to spend about $2 million per year until 2020. READ
The North Fork was spared the worst of a winter storm that wreaked havoc on other parts of Long Island Saturday. READ
