Mandated reduction in employees slowed some progress
Employees of Cornwall-on-Hudson’s public works and water departments returned to work on May 18 and they have a lot to catch up on. With a daily reduction in workforce numbers since the middle of March, some jobs fell by the wayside as more important tasks took priority.
When Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a reduction in workforce numbers, the two village superintendents complied by reducing the number of days their employees worked each week and splitting them into smaller crews.
Prior to the governor issuing his executive order Water Department Superintendent Mike Trainor segregated a couple of his water treatment operators from the rest of the crew. He reached out to his chemical supply companies to make sure enough product was on hand in case there was a disruption in the supply chain. He also reached out to the Village of Harriman to borrow employees should any operators become ill and vice versa.
Following the executive order, Trainor split his eight employees into two main crews which were kept separate as much as possible over the past two months. They worked three days and were off four. Each day there were four employees working — two handled water treatment operations while the other duo handled water distribution operations. There were times when the department had to handle emergency water leaks and it was all hands on deck.
Trainor said only one employee had to self-isolate because a family member tested positive for COVID-19, but after two weeks the employee showed no symptoms of the virus.
Keeping the water flowing took priority followed by repairing leaks and routine property maintenance such as mowing grass.
Over the past two months, a leak detection survey has been ongoing, identifying 21 leaks throughout the greater Cornwall water system. Trainor said they weren’t substantial, but a full crew will allow for those issues to be addressed. Blacktopping from leaks repaired over the winter will also resume. Trainor said interior meter repairs will resume once phase one re-opening is complete. In June, Trainor hopes to install an antenna on top of Cornwall Hospital. This will allow the department to read meters remotely without having to visit individual houses.
In the Department of Public Works, Superintendent David Halvorsen split his nine employees into three groups. Each group rotated doing sanitation services, recycling, and yard waste so they wouldn’t have the same job each time. During the day, one or two guys would handle issues with the sewers and storm drains, as well as tackle any mowing of village property. While the guys worked three days a week, all were called in for emergencies like clearing roads of snow after a late-season winter storm, as well as a wind storm which required removal of debris.
Halvorsen said the department fell behind on roadside mowing, replacing signage, and repairing potholes. Road preparation for paving has also been delayed, but paving companies have not been deemed essential unless working on a state project.
“It’s been a very challenging time for us, but I really commend our employees for their effort and their work ethic that they put in, even with the change in our schedule,” Halvorsen said. “When we had a garbage truck break down, we had a couple guys who weren’t scheduled to be in, but they were the guys I needed to work on the truck. They were in right away working all day to get it back in service.”
