Town of North Elba

VOTERS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO GIVE UP VOTING FOR HIGHWAY SUPER:

The North Elba Town Board adopted a resolution Tuesday that will change the position of highway superintendent from an elected to an appointed position. The decision came after a public hearing.
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The board’s decision to change the way the highway superintendent is hired is due to the number of duties the superintendent now has, according to town Supervisor Shirley Seney. The current highway superintendent, Norm Harlow, oversees the airport as well as the roadways of both the town of North Elba and village of Lake Placid. Board members said during their regular meeting in June that the position needs to be filled by someone who can take on the added responsibility of other jobs outside of the highway department.

Harlow said he sees the point and the necessity of the change.

“The position takes someone with experience dealing with purchasing equipment and dealing with engineers,” Harlow said, citing the duties now performed by the highway superintendent as overwhelming for an elected official.

“I don’t doubt the voters ability but it’s a professional job and takes years of experience, and for someone to come in off the street and try to learn this stuff on the taxpayers dime-well that’s a big dime,” Harlow said.
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Eventually, the town and village hope to consolidate public service departments into a joint Department of Public Works, according to Seney. Changing the position of highway superintendent into an appointed position will make the transition into a DPW easier for the village and town, Seney said June 6.

This resolution will take affect when Harlow’s term ends in December 2007.