For Immediate Release

July 17, 2012

 

Town of Clarkstown to Bill County for the Maintenance of Street Lights, Traffic Signals and Hydrants on County Roads

 

(New City, NY) – Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack and the Clarkstown Town Board approved a resolution at the July 10th Town Board meeting to bill the County of Rockland for the maintenance and utilities on County roads.  Rockland County’s other four Towns are also voting on similar resolutions. 

 

A review of the street lights, traffic lights and fire hydrants within the Town of Clarkstown has revealed that the Town has been paying approximately $460,479 a year for the costs of maintaining those fixtures along County roads within Clarkstown, when all those costs are the legal responsibility of the County. 

 

There are 1,982 fire hydrants in the Town and 247 of those are on County roads.  The Town estimates the costs for fire hydrants on County roads is approximately $230,866.  There are 5,359 street lights throughout the Town and 526 of those are on County roads.  The Town estimates the costs for street lights on County roads is approximately $99,650.  There are 87 traffic signals in the Town and 52 of those are on County roads.  Traffic signals include traffic lights, flashing lights, school flashing beacons and firehouse traffic signals.  The Town estimates the costs for traffic signals on County roads is approximately $129,963 annually.

 

“As we start to enter our budget preparations for next year all municipalities are struggling to stay within the Governor’s 2% tax cap.  While the Town of Clarkstown has been successful in the past with a 0% tax increase in 2011 and 2012, we have to continue to look for ways to reduce the cost of Town government,” said Supervisor Gromack.  “We are in no position to be footing the bill for the maintenance of County roads.”  

 

The Town will bill the County for all costs initially billed to or paid by the Town associated with street lights, traffic lights, and fire hydrants adjacent to County roads including but not limited to electric supply costs charged by Orange and Rockland Utilities or other energy supply companies, repair costs, and United Water hydrant charges.  The Town has also directed its Comptroller to make arrangements for all future bills from service providers or vendors to be charged directly to the County. 

 

The resolution also directs the Town Attorney to commence appropriate legal action, either individually or with the other four Towns of Rockland, to declare that the responsibility for all costs associated with street lights, traffic lights and fire hydrants is the County’s not the Town’s and to seek reimbursement from the County for all costs already paid by the Town. 

 

Other Towns have proven successful in similar legal action including the Town of Huntington in Suffolk County.  The five Towns have retained Edward J. Guardaro, Jr. of Kaufman, Borgeest & Ryan, LLP, a municipal land and road use attorney expert, who is highly experienced in these matters and who has successfully handled similar claims on behalf of other municipalities.  Mr. Guardaro can be reached for additional information at (914) 449-1000. 

 

 

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