History

History and Highlights
​of the
​Westchester County Association
​of
​Town Superintendents of Highways

The information in this history is taken principally from information contained in the various Journals from the Westchester County Association of Town Highway Superintendents as well as minutes from the monthly Association meetings.  While the records of the monthly meetings are incomplete, our purpose here is to review the records which exist and document items of significance in order to provide a clear perspective as to how the Association has operated over the last 75 years.  While the year 1940 is recognized as the first official year of the Association’s existence, the year 1937 is when the first discussions of such an organization began with the first Association Dinner held in 1938.  

Also found was a good amount of correspondence between our Association and the State Highway Superintendents Association, most referring to legislative action involving both the Town Highway Department and the authority of the Town Superintendent of Highways. 

The information below was taken from copies of Association files kept by the Superintendent of Highways in the Town of Mount Pleasant.

1938-1939

 On December 20, 1937, following a telephone conversation with Owen Quinn, Superintendent of Highways in the Town of Mount Pleasant, George Cannon, Superintendent of Highways in the Town of Eastchester wrote to Superintendent Quinn, suggesting that the eighteen town highway superintendents in Westchester County form a local chapter identical and supplementary to the New York State Association of Town Superintendents.  Copies of this original correspondence are located in Appendix A.  The initial meeting to begin the organization of the Association was held in February 1938. 

The Westchester County Association of Town Superintendents of Highways held their first Annual Dinner Dance on June 8, 1938 at Schmidt’s Farm  in Greenburgh.  The Dinner Committee Chairman was Owen Quinn.  The Journal contained 128 advertisers,  some of which are still in business today either originally or with a different name including Clinton Asphalt Company, Plaza Sand and Stone, Westchester Colprovia, D.F. MacNamee and Company and Westchester Asphalt Distributing Corporation to name a few. 

1940-1950

A minimal amount of information was found for the World War II years.  On January 19, 1942, a conference of Town Highway Superintendents was held in Albany.  Owen Quinn from Mt. Pleasant attended on behalf of the organization.  Some of the highlights of that meeting included discussion on protection of highway superintendents from lawsuits involving negligence, discussion on snow removal from State Highways and the reimbursement of Towns for state highway snow removal  and  the every present discussion on four year terms for Town Highway Superintendents. 

In the early years of the organization, monthly meetings were typically held in the evening  and spread throughout Westchester. 

In 1947 the County of Westchester was well represented on the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways including 3^rd Vice President Basil Bradner from Harrison, Harry Wilcox, former Highway Superintendent in Mount  Pleasant on the Executive Committee and Charles H. Sells, Superintendent of Public Works for the State of  New York, Honorary Vice President. 

The June 21, 1949 meeting of our Association was held at the Old Dutch Mill in Yorktown Heights.  Discussion  involved a report on the 9^th Annual Dinner Dance and  nominations for office in the fall.  It was decided to hold regular monthly meetings on the 4^th Tuesday of every month in the various Towns with the Highway Superintendent selecting a location.  It is worthy to note here that Frances Reiter signed the minutes as Secretary.

The September 8, 1949 meeting was held at the Morgan Inn in White Plains with 11 members in attendance.  Three members  will attend the State Association meeting and each attending member will be allowed $100 in expenses.

1950-1959

The March 8, 1950 minutes of the Association  note that dues to the State Association for Westchester County Highway Superintendents  are paid by our Association.  The Annual Dinner Dance is scheduled for June 8^th at Schmidt’s Farm  in Greenburgh at a cost of $4.50 per person.  The cost for a full page ad in the Journal is set at $50.00. 

In the early the position of Highway Superintendent in the Town of Greenburgh was changed from elected to appointed.  A number of other Town’s would follow in eliminated the elected Highway Superintendent position.  As of 2018, only 5 Town’s in Westchester County continue to elect the Highway Superintendent. 

The June 28, 1950 meeting was held at Mape’s Restaurant in Peekskill with 9 members present.  The results of the Dinner Dance were reviewed. 

Journal Ads - $2,260.00

350 dinners - $1,211.10

Journal Printing - $312.00

Amusement  Tax $70.00

The August 30, 1950 meeting was held at the 19^th Hole Restaurant in Somers  with 13 members present.  Treasurer reports a balance of $4,930.68.  A clambake is being arranged for members and wives, sweethearts etc. for Saturday September 9, 1950 at the Brenning Clam House.  State Legislator Ted Hill spoke on political and highway matters.  A fine midnight snack consisting of steamed clams and soft shell crab was served. 

1960-1969

Activities of the Association remained fairly consistent during the 1960’s. 

1970-1979

Report January 24, 1973

Status of Constitution

At this writing the only document found is headed  “Constitution and By-Laws - Westchester County Association of Town Superintendents of Highways”.  This document is without date, and to the best of my recollection has been revised.

In early 1969 Bernard Scott of Westchester  Colprovia  Corp. applied for membership in the organization, and this document was found at that time. This, according to Article III, permitted  so-called "Honorary Members" to join, and accordingly Scotty was elected to membership.

It might be noted here that the term "Honorary Member" is possibly in error, as the term "Associate Member" would be more  descriptive.  In any event, in order to limit this type of membership, a committee composed of Basil Bradner, Lou Russo, Bob Green and Art Bailie was formed to revise the constitution.  This was done, but no record of the change has been found to date.

In October of 1969 a special resolution was passed to permit the election of Joe Tartaglia of Peckham Industries, as it was felt he would be a most valuable member.   Immediately after he was voted in, another motion was passed again closing the membership. This is recorded in the minutes of October 1969.

At this writing, I am not sure whether the attached document was amended or re-written. In any event, it would be my recommendation that a new committee be formed and that the present  document be completely revised, provided, of course, that we are still unable to locate any later document.  It might be noted that no By-Laws are included in the attached document.

After this is done, it would be my suggestion that copies be made for all members and that one copy be marked "Official Copy”  and that all changes be shown on this copy, and that this copy be kept with the official minutes of all meetings and passed on from one secretary to the next. In this way we can avoid a repetition of the present situation.

Respectfully submitted.

Art Bailie

1980-1989

At some point between June of 1982 and June of 1983, the Associate membership was changed from three to four organizations and included Joseph “Joe T” Tartaglia of Peckham Industries, Robert Leo of Westchester  Colprovia,  Jerry Adams of Capital Highway Products and James Reed of James Reed Sales Inc.

The financial report for the 1986 Dinner Dance showed 322 people attended with ticket sales of $11,275.00, chances sold amounted to $1,145.00 and the Journal took in $10,055.00 for a total income            

of $22,475.00.  Expenses amounted to $13,904.61 for printing, dinners, journal printing, live band, raffle and miscellaneous for a profit of $8,570.39   

After much discussion, the number of Associate members in the organization was raised from four to twelve on March 16, 1989.

1990 to 1999

In March of 1993 the Scholarship Program was implemented.  From 1993 through 1995, $1,000 was awarded to a student attending the Civil Technology Program at Westchester Community College.

At  the November 1994 meeting, regular membership of Putnam County Town Highway Superintendents was voted and approved on a individual basis.

The Association name was changed to the Westchester and Putnam Counties Association of Town Superintendents of Highways was voted and approved in February 1995.

The position of Vice President from Putnam County and allowing an Associate or Honorary member to be Association Secretary was  voted and approved at the October 1995 meeting.

The oath of Office and assumption of Office for newly elected officers of the associated would take place at the December meeting.

2000 to 2018

In 2013, the Association voted to raise the Associate  membership from 12 to 13 organizations.  Also in 2013 a Committee was established to plan for the organizations 75^th Anniversary in 2015. 

On June 19, 2015, the Association celebrated its 75^th Anniversary with a Dinner/Dance aboard World Yacht, sailing from Pier 81 on Manhattan’s west side. 

Our Association continues to operate today as it did more than 75 years ago.  Monthly meetings draw a large percentage of the membership with informative and sometimes boisterous discussions on current events.  Our Association has joined with the Westchester County Association of Municipal Public Works Administrators in holding the annual general membership meeting dinner in the fall.   Scholarships are awarded on an annual basis to individuals seeking to advance their education in the fields of engineering, public administration and public works.  Funds are raised through dues collected and the annual golf outing.