OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen Pictured is the new Arkwright Highway Department building addition.

ARKWRIGHT — The Town of Sheridan is not alone in pushing back against comments from Pomfret Supervisor Dan Pacos regarding consolidation. Town of Arkwright Supervisor Brian McAvoy reiterated his stance that the Arkwright Highway Department is not going away.

“To be clear, the Arkwright Highway Crew, working from their centrally located garage and servicing almost 40 miles of highway, aren’t going anywhere. The model is efficient and well serves the taxpayers of Arkwright,” McAvoy told the OBSERVER.

Pacos made comments recently at a meeting regarding consolidation of services in several potential avenues. Pacos said that Fredonia wants to dissolve its Department of Public Works, and noted that a new department could serve multiple municipalities. He suggested several towns, including Dunkirk, Sheridan, and Arkwright.

Sheridan Supervisor Steve Roach immediately refuted that notion, and McAvoy was not far behind.

The Town of Arkwright is currently evaluating reclassifying its Highway Superintendent from a full-time, elected position to a part-time, appointed role. McAvoy believes doing so would result in savings for the town without impacting the duties of the department itself. Such a change would require voter approval.

McAvoy stated that if Arkwright is forced to turn to Plan B, it would consider a shared services agreement for the duties of Highway Superintendent, similar to what is being done with the Assessor’s Office in Pomfret. The Highway Superintendent could be shared with Pomfret or some other Town, like the Town of Dunkirk and Town of Sheridan do with their shared Highway Superintendent, Jeff Feinen.

“That was the conversation with Dan Pacos, who has been nice enough to keep Arkwright in the loop regarding the ongoing efforts with Pomfret, Fredonia and Dunkirk,” McAvoy said. He said that he appreciated being “in the know” and wishes “nothing but success” in discussions regarding consolidation efforts in nearby municipalities.