My name is William Naughton, the elected Superintendent of Highways for the Town. This is my twenty-first year in office as an elected public servant in this great town located in western Suffolk County on Long Island, NY. I have been a Town resident since 1964.
The Highway Office administers several programs throughout the Town of Huntington’s 800 miles of roads and right-of-ways, serving the needs of the residents and traveling public in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Under my supervision, the Huntington Highway Hotline (499-0444) was initiated in our Town Hall office as an additional service to the residents. The Hotline is to be used by residents to inform us of their concerns relating to the condition of roads, drainage, trees, or other services.
The Highway Office is responsible for snow and ice control, street sweeping, pothole repair, street and right-of-way maintenance, road re-construction, road paving, drainage control, drainage maintenance, road striping, and road name signs. In addition, we are also responsible for the maintenance of existing drainage structures and recharge basins, the maintenance of street trees, and the tree improvement program that includes the removal of dead trees, tree pruning, and the planting of new trees. Additionally, the Town of Huntington Highway Office issues permits for parades, block parties, driveway aprons, curb cuts, and road construction . Plans for new subdivisions must be reviewed by the Highway Engineer and the Superintendent of Highways to determine that all roads, drainage structures, curbs and sidewalks, as well as, street tree plantings satisfy code requirements. The aforementioned items must be in conformance with all State and Town ordinances and meet the proper specifications before such subdivisions are sent to the Town Board for dedication. Every autumn, the Highway Office distributes leaf bags to the residents to assist them in the removal of leaves from their property. Service to the residents of the Town of Huntington has been the focus of my administration since taking office, and it will continue to be so. The reality is that many of the functions of the Highway Office are contingent upon the uncertainty of the weather. Snow and ice control, flooding, fallen trees, and the need for increased street sweeping are greatly dependent upon the number, the intensity, and the severity of seasonal storms. Winter storms (snow, ice, and possible flooding) will impact the conditions of our 800 miles of Town roads. The “freeze-thaw” cycle we experience in the Northeast will impact itself on the degree and amount of road maintenance and repair necessary every spring and summer. Likewise, the amount and severity of rainstorms will impact our drainage structures. All three Huntington Highway facilities have emergency generator back-up to ensure continued operation in the event of power outages. The Highway Office has taken great strides in the computerization of records relating to pavement management, town trees, recharge basins, as well as resident requests for service. To enhance snow and ice control, 1 salt storage building, and four sand and salt storage facilities have materials necessary for operations and they are strategically located. The construction of these buildings has proven to be both environmentally and economically beneficial to the Town of Huntington.