January 30, 2010

Public works seeks to triple outlay for paving streets

Worried that repairing crumbling streets will wind up costing taxpayers far more in the long run, public works officials are seeking to triple the money the city allocated for road resurfacing during the next fiscal year.
The budget panel for the Public Works Board recently recommended allocating $1.9 million for repaving city streets. That compares to the $650,000 it will likely spend this fiscal year, which ends in June.
“This is what we think we need to somewhat hold our own,” Public Works Director Walter Veselka said.
But with politicians and fiscal overseers fretting that revenues are down and wary of hiking property taxes, the prospects for winning approval for the spending are poor.
Finance Chairman Rich Miecznikowski, whose Board of Finance does most of the work of setting the yearly spending plan, said, “We’ll look at it very closely, as we do with all budgets.”
“I know damn well they’re going to cut it,” said Don Padlo, a long-serving public works commissioner.
Last year, public works sought $2.2 million for its overall streets budget – which includes paving, sidewalk repairs and a number of related items – but emerged with $1.3 million in its final revised budget.
This time around, public works officials are angling for $2.6 million, despite warnings that city spending will generally be frozen at this year’s level.
“We can’t take another $1 million hit,” said city Councilor Cliff Block.
For the complete story, click here.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

We are so far behind because of Nicastro.

Couture and Stortz tried to catch up, but Ward is digging us into the hole again!

Just like he did when he was on the PWKS Board

Anonymous said...

CUT CUT CUT 5% of public works this town doesn`t need them as much as years past. and if you don`t need them cut management as well.that`s what is right for this town.

Anonymous said...

The sins of Frank Nicastro are finally cathing up with us.

Anonymous said...

Reduce the BOE budget by a few % and maybe we could afford to keep our infrastructure from crumbling. Or consolidate fire houses and get rid of a few of their officers. Talk about fat budgets.

Anonymous said...

If Art cuts this, does it mean that he isn't runing again?

Anonymous said...

layoff at PW start with Walt - he doesn't do anything anyway.

Anonymous said...

They need more money because public works in poorly run no managementand nothing being done about it. Walter is lost in this position and so is 2nd in command.

Odin said...

Refusing to pay for road repairs is stupid. If the roof of your house is leaking, do you put pots under the drips or do you fix it before the walls and ceilings are ruined? Ward gutted the PW budget last year and he's going to do it again this year. He is more concerned about getting reelected than doing what is best for Bristol.

And you dimwits in PW are not helping by carping on Veselka. He may be A problem, but he's not THE problem. Lack of knowledge and vision at the top is THE problem.

Anonymous said...

And where is "the mouth" Cockayne on this?

Seems like he has been awful quiet lately!

Anonymous said...

Couture and Stortz were to stupid to get things done both were over there heads.

Anonymous said...

Walter needs to go. When is the Mayor going to get rid of this guy?

Anonymous said...

from some of the comments the public works people don`t have faith in there leaders it sounds like public works is not running that good.

Anonymous said...

12:15

Stortz got a lot more done than you realize: he just didn't crow about it.

And he DID increase road paving money, and he DID cut overtime.

Anonymous said...

Stortz ran a going dess shop into the toilet and Balloon Boy DWI ran a bar into the toilet. Look at what they are doing NOW. Time for new blood-----------------Soon!

Anonymous said...

ok Bill get back to your room we know you love you.

Anonymous said...

Cockyane has to check with stortz before he can make a decision.

Anonymous said...

7:38

You gotta be crazy!

Awhile back, Cockayne told his leadership that he would not run if Stortz was on the ticket.

Anonymous said...

3:40


Thats just another reason I would not vote for or support Cockayne.

Or Mocabee and Schaffrick

Anonymous said...

All has changedstortz kisses ken ass and ken loves it.

Anonymous said...

As others have noticed and stated, Stortz doesn't kiss any ones ass, especially Cockaynes.

Shows how much you know!!!

Anonymous said...

I agree with the poster who suggested cutting the BOE budget and putting that money to work maintaining our roads. After all, how will the teachers and students get to school when the roads have crumbled? It's for the kids!!!

Anonymous said...

8:59

You forget that Caockayne endorsed Johnson (where is he now?) over Stortz.

I'll bet Stortz hasn't forgotten.

And why isn't Cockayne pushing to collect that CL&P money?