Ron Shultes understands the post of highway super is about public service, not continuous politics

— Photo from Joel Willsey

Work zone: “Note there is no through lane provided and sight distance is eliminated by the trucks on both sides for anyone trying to negotiate the work zone,” writes Willsey. “Pedestrians and bicyclists are forced to emerge blindly from behind a truck into a live travel lane to go through work zone in either direction. This is extremely bad practice as is not wearing any high visibility clothes or helmet near the machine.”

— Photo from Joel Willsey

Where is the Stop sign?” is the question Joel Willsey asked in a caption he wrote for pictures of four intersections in Berne. This one is in East Berne at the intersection of Main Street and Route 443. “The trees are on the town right-of-way and the superintendent refused to cut them last year,” wrote Willsey. “The state right-of-way is totally clear of brush and is not the issue. An elected official responsible for public safety should want those trees down ASAP ... I could do it myself in an afternoon. This is a serious safety issue. If you are driving 45 or 50 miles per hour by the time you see that sign you’ll be lucky to get stopped before the 443 travel lane.

To the Editor:

I am writing to support Ron Shultes for highway superintendent in Berne. My reasons are varied, many based on my 34 years of experience working for the state’s Department of Transportation, and many based on observations of town road conditions, and the routine practice of our local highway department.  

First, I have grave concerns about the safety of our highway workers and the traveling public. While safety should be the first priority, basic, established work-zone safety standards — industry standards —  are not followed.

As I understand it, The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is the applicable standard for towns in New York and any New York DOT supplemental information should also be considered when designing and establishing town work zones.  

Berne workers operate without proper safeguards — no hard hats around operating equipment, no high visibility ANSI/ISEA class 2 or 3 clothing, and no flagmen to direct traffic in one-lane work zones with inadequate sight distance. Drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists must negotiate these work zones and, with trucks and equipment on both sides, they are forced to go around these obstacles wondering if traffic is coming the other way.

A through lane should be clearly provided.  Drivers require advanced warning to slow down and proceed cautiously; they need to easily see a through lane, see the workers on site, and require guidance getting past the large trucks and machines within a work zone that block sight distance.

Flagmen, properly dressed and equipped in high-visibility work clothes, are often necessary but not provided — even when signs indicate there will be flaggers. The absence of these safety features, so essential to protecting both workers and the public, endanger us all.

The traveling public is also put at unnecessary risk due to brush that has been allowed to grow along town roads, in the town right-of-way, at numerous intersections. Stop signs obscured by brush in the town right-of-way last year are still obscured this year.

The state and county right-of-way is clear of brush at those intersections. This is an extremely dangerous situation that could be quickly addressed — just cut the brush.  It’s on town right-of-way.

Stop signs need to be visible at a distance that accommodates reaction time and stopping distance at the speed limit. That is not the case at numerous Berne intersections and brush is creeping in at others.

Our town workers are good people, trying to do a good job; they deserve better. Our residents deserve better.

Ron Shultes will ensure that the proper training, equipment, and gear needed to safely execute jobs is provided. He will simply see that the brush is cut to provide the best possible sight distance at intersections.

There are other serious issues that need improvement. We can improve safety while making progress with projects, and will, with Ron as our highway superintendent.

The second reason I support Ron’s candidacy is cooperative leadership. The job is a large one, requiring collaborative work with the town board, with the highway workers, respect for all our residents, and a thorough understanding of the job. The evidence suggests that none of these requirements are being adequately met.

Consider the adversarial tone between the highway workers and the town board, the  animosity publicly directed toward residents with concerns about road conditions, the safety issues described above, and the current highway superintendent’s failure to grasp the parameters of his job, evident in his continuous press for control over issues not under his jurisdiction. None of this serves the best interests of the town.

I believe that between myself and Ron we have about six decades of relevant  industry experience that would benefit the highway department operations. We would work together, pulling in the same direction, to improve the town and its operations.

No more drama, no more animosity, no more legal challenges from the highway garage for control of the town.

I see the slogan “People, not politics,” but where was that attitude when a 90-year-old World War II veteran asked that his road be kept open in winter? His letter, asking that the road be maintained and open, went unanswered.

The road, necessary for emergency access, was barricaded. A conversation addressing the issue with his son was secretly recorded, then mocked on the illegitimate “Berne Highway Dept.” Facebook page.   Where was the respect for those people?

Sadly, the catchy phrase falls far short of what is actually taking place. Your party affiliation and level of political activity currently dictates how you are treated by the Berne Highway Department. The phrase is clearly backwards.

Ron Shultes is a conscientious and experienced worker in the construction field. He will work to eliminate unnecessary risks to the public and the highway workers while getting things done. He will foster a healthy, collaborative, and respectful environment with the town board and Berne’s residents regardless of party affiliation.

Ron understands the position is about public service; not continuous politics. Election Day, Nov. 7, provides a great opportunity to support a more focused, safer, and proactive highway department. Please vote Row A, and please consider Ron Shultes for highway superintendent when you cast your vote.

Joel Willsey

East Berne

Editor’s note: Joel Willsey and Ron Shultes are both running on the Democratic line — Shultes is challenging Republican Highway Superintendent Randy Bashwinger, and Willsey is running for a seat on the Berne Town Board.

The  90-year-old World War II veteran Willsey refers to is his father.

To document his letter, Willsey submitted photographs, which are posted online at www.AltamontEnterprise.com with his letter.

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