My name is William Naughton, the elected Superintendent of Highways for the
Town. This is my twenty-first year in office as an elected public servant
in this great town located in western Suffolk County on Long Island, NY. I have
been a Town resident since 1964.
The Highway Office administers several programs
throughout the Town of Huntington's 800 miles of roads and right-of-ways,
serving the needs of the residents and traveling public in an efficient and
cost-effective manner. Under my supervision, the Huntington Highway Hotline
(499-0444) was initiated in our Town Hall office as an additional service to the
residents. The Hotline is to be used by residents to inform us of their concerns
relating to the condition of roads, drainage, trees, or other services.
The Highway Office is responsible
for snow and ice control, street sweeping, pothole repair, street and
right-of-way maintenance, road re-construction, road paving, drainage control,
drainage maintenance, road striping, and road name signs. In addition, we are
also responsible for the maintenance of existing drainage structures and
recharge basins, the maintenance of street trees, and the tree improvement
program that includes the removal of dead trees, tree pruning, and the planting
of new trees. Additionally, the Town of Huntington Highway Office issues permits
for parades, block parties, driveway aprons, curb
cuts, and road construction
. Plans for new subdivisions must be
reviewed by the Highway Engineer and the Superintendent of Highways to determine
that all roads, drainage structures, curbs and sidewalks, as well as, street
tree plantings satisfy code requirements. The aforementioned items must be in
conformance with all State and Town ordinances and meet the proper
specifications before such subdivisions are sent to the Town Board for
dedication. Every autumn, the Highway Office distributes leaf bags to the
residents to assist them in the removal of leaves from their property. Service
to the residents of the Town of Huntington has been the focus of my
administration since taking office, and it will continue to be so. The reality
is that many of the functions of the Highway Office are contingent upon the
uncertainty of the weather. Snow and ice control, flooding, fallen trees, and
the need for increased street sweeping are greatly dependent upon the number,
the intensity, and the severity of seasonal storms. Winter storms (snow, ice,
and possible flooding) will impact the conditions of our 800 miles of Town
roads. The "freeze-thaw" cycle we experience in the Northeast will impact itself
on the degree and amount of road maintenance and repair necessary every spring
and summer. Likewise, the amount and severity of rainstorms will impact our
drainage structures. All three Huntington Highway facilities have emergency
generator back-up to ensure continued operation in the event of power outages.
The Highway Office has taken great strides in the computerization of records
relating to pavement management, town trees, recharge basins, as well as
resident requests for service. To enhance snow and ice control, 1 salt storage
building, and four sand and salt storage facilities have materials necessary for
operations and they are strategically located. The construction of these
buildings has proven to be both environmentally and economically beneficial to
the Town of Huntington.