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Town of South Windsor

• Jeff LeMay, Plant Manager at the South Windsor Wastewater Treatment Facility, has been named the recipient of the 2024 Alfred E. Peloquin Award. This prestigious recognition celebrates his exceptional contributions to the wastewater field, including advancements in operations, environmental improvements, public relations, and his leadership roles within the CT Water Environment Association and beyond.

Town of Wethersfield

• Ray Veilleux has been hired as a new Maintainer III/Mason, bringing extensive experience in road work, catch basins, piping, and traditional masonry, including pouring sidewalks, footings, and building pointing.
• Henry Cela has successfully passed probation and is now a permanent member of the Maintainer II road crew, eager to expand his skills and build a lasting career.
• Jared Spang has been named Senior Electrician, bringing years of private contracting experience and playing a key role in the Trades staff by leading initiatives such as the streetlight program, EV charging stations, and generator replacements.

Tribute:

• Wethersfield mourns the loss of Robert Sharkevich, Sr., a valued member of their Physical Services staff and Maintainer/Carpenter for the schools. A retired Hartford firefighter with a distinguished career, Robert continued his service as a Wethersfield volunteer firefighter for over 20 years. Tragically, he lost his life heroically battling the Hawthorne fire in Berlin, embodying his lifelong dedication to protecting and serving his community.

Let us celebrate your department's successes with our CT Public Works community. Please email Regina Hackett your agency's great news and we will publish it in an upcoming newsletter.

Introduction

Across the state, poor road conditions characterized by potholes and cracking are a persistent challenge that drains resources and time. At the CTDOT Maintenance Garage in East Granby, we tried a new approach to road repair and it has been very successful, maximizing efficiency and reducing long-term costs.

Identifying the Problem

For years, the roads required constant maintenance due to widespread potholes and extensive cracking. This not only consumed valuable time and manpower, but also put a strain on departmental resources. In 2019, I was reassigned to the East Granby Maintenance garage, where I discovered a potential solution: a Skid Steer equipped with a milling head.

My manager, Shawn Keeney, shared an idea from his previous experience as a General Supervisor, detailing how his team successfully employed a Skid Steer with a milling head alongside a paving push box to tackle similar road issues. Inspired, I proposed that we try this successful model in our area. He was very supportive and allowed me to move forward with the project.

We all know that there will be more vehicles on our roadways during the upcoming holiday season. Crashes on Connecticut roads are a problem that affects us all, not just those in vehicles. Pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users can all suffer the consequence brought on by poor driving behavior during our holiday season. We must all be active participants in the Safe System Approach to make sure everyone can enjoy the holidays and return home safely. So, what can we do as road users to make sure the holidays are a happy and safe season for everyone?

TRAVEL AT SAFE SPEEDS:

• Slow down – Speeding on Connecticut roads is a huge problem. With the increased holiday traffic, there will be more vehicles and less room for error. Going slower and driving more reasonably will give you more time to react if there is a problem.
• Plan ahead – Just like making sure you have a plan to have a sober driver, plan ahead to make sure you have plenty of time to get where you need to go. Rushing on the roads to get to your destination is never a good idea.
• Be aware of road conditions – Making sure that you travel at a speed that reflects the conditions of the roadway is the safest way to get to your destination. Not only can snow, ice, fog, and rain prove to be an adverse condition, high traffic volume can also slow you down. Always drive safely, no matter the conditions.

Shawn has been in law enforcement for the past 25 years. As a retired police sergeant from the Town of Windsor Locks and the commander of the North Central Regional Crash Reconstruction Team, he has extensive experience in crash reconstruction and investigations. Shawn hopes to bring his experience and the network he has built to help in his new position helping CT cities and towns reduce fatalities and injuries on local roads.

Welcome, Shawn!

A facilitated conversation featuring a variety of public works professionals discussing a range of topics. These include employee retention, CDL training costs, composting, and more.

Connecticut Training and Technical Assistance Center

University of Connecticut

270 Middle Turnpike, Unit 5202

Storrs, CT 06269-5202

Phone: 860-486-9373