HANOVER - Town officials recently experienced more trouble in getting cooperation from the railroad companies when crossings are closed.
At a recent Hanover Town Board meeting, Highway Superintendent Steve D'Angelo explained despite initial notification Norfolk Southern would be replacing tracks and ties at the Sunset Bay crossing Monday, Sept. 22, work was canceled at the last minute due to mechanical failures with the railroad's equipment. However, he said tentative dates are already rescheduled for the coming weeks.
"This is nothing new with the railroads," D'Angelo said during a workshop prior to the meeting. "They're going to do it how they want to do it and when they want to do it. We're pretty much at their mercy."
Over the weekend, D'Angelo said, local fire departments as well as school officials had been notified of the closing and the reverse 911 system was activated to notify residents, the bay emergency access road was opened, and additional detour signs were posted throughout the bays in preparation.
Although officials at Norfolk Southern were aware of the equipment failure the previous Friday, he explained, they tried to acquire the necessary equipment over the weekend and, when they were unable to, only notified him of the postponement early Monday. D'Angelo was forced to use the reverse 911 system to notify residents of the change in plans, which included tentative dates scheduled for the next two weeks.
Officials at Norfolk Southern told D'Angelo work on the Sunset Bay railroad crossing is now expected to begin Monday, Sept. 29, with work to begin on the Hanford Bay railroad crossing the following Monday - Oct. 6 - if the necessary materials are available. Each crossing will take approximately three to four days, D'Angelo said, although the duration of time spent on either crossing is subject to change.
"So, we're going to be saddled with this for two weeks," he said during the regular meeting. "It was a little bit disappointing because we had gone through a lot of preparation to make the proper notifications and let people know this was going to happen. We'll just have to be patient and we'll get through this."
D'Angelo also said the reverse 911 system will be activated again to notify residents of the closing ahead of time when dates are finalized.
In other business:
The town board approved a request, upon the recommendation of D'Angelo, for the state department of transportation to conduct a speed reduction study on Buffalo Road - 55 miles/hour - from Versailles Road to the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation.
Tampio announced the town of Villenova will host an informational meeting Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Villenova town hall for the upcoming wind energy project between Villenova and Hanover.
The town received no bids for the sale of a 2002 Chevy Silverado pickup truck from the sewer department, which was then declared surplus equipment and set to be sold at auction with a reserve.
D'Angelo announced the beach rake has been received and will be ready for next season.
The town boat launch will be open only on weekends beginning at the end of September and will remain so until the end of October.
The next Hanover Town Board meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 14 due to Columbus Day.
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