You Know, I Imagine It Should Hopefully Happen Soon

 

During his monthly report at this month's informal Common Council meeting, DPW Superman Robert Perry took more time than he ever has to let the council and public know what is going on with National Grid's gas line replacement project which began in August of last year.  I believe, actually, that this was just the second time during Perry's monthly reports that he has made mention of the project.  Relatively speaking, it was an overwhelming amount of information and, lest we forget, I think it is worth getting on the record exactly what he said.   

This was the first time I heard Mr. Perry give an estimate as to when the current phase of National Grid's project would be winding down and what, if anything, to expect beyond that.  Until this month, our $115,000 Great Communicator on Zoom had never mentioned when the project might end, why it is even happening, when and what roads would be closed or impacted, what the scope of the entire project is, or if and when the project might resume in future years.  And, of course, no council members are interested to know or ask questions about the never-ending work on our streets and sidewalks.  

Perry's reference to "Mullen" has to do with National Grid's contractor, J. Mullen & Sons from Saugerties, that has been excavating, filling and spray painting our streets and sidewalks for several months and has been seemingly stuck in the 500 block of Warren for at least the past 3 months.  According to my notes, the trench along the north side of Warren from 3rd street to 6th street was dug in early October, over 6 months ago.  Service lines to buildings are still being replaced to this day.

Mullen is the same company that destroyed an apartment building in Wappingers Falls in November after accidently rupturing an old, unidentified Central Hudson Gas & Electric natural gas line. They were performing, at the same time, the same type of work they were, and still are, doing here in Hudson as a contractor for a utility.  10 people suffered blast and burn injuries, apparently, with 8 of them being sent to the Westchester Medical Center Burn Unit.  As far as I know, no one was killed. 

The result of Mullen's work in Wappingers Falls last year.
(Courtesy of the Poughkeepsie Journal)

I take most of what our DPW Superintendent says with a huge grain of salt, but here is exactly what he said during the meeting, it lasting less than one minute.  Presumably, he is relaying information he had received from Mullen or National Grid:

"Mullen should be wrapping up Warren Street in early May.  At that point we have received permits; the next phase will be the 400 block of Union Street, portions of 4th Street and portions of State Street.  You know, the reason that they are in here and operating with such fervor is because these are just old mains. You know, they are prone to leaks. Typically, you know, leaks and natural gas are not two things you want to use in the same sentence.  So, these are a priority between them and the Public Service Commission.  Hopefully, they should be in and out by late summer and that will be the end of this kind of work for some time I would imagine."

Actually, Perry misspoke.  Mullen is just the contractor doing work that the Public Service Commission has forced National Grid to do.  National Grid -- not Mullen -- signs the DPW excavation permits and takes orders from the PSC.  The PSC does not deal with Mullen, because they don't own, nor are they responsible for, the gas infrastructure found in Hudson or anywhere else.  They are doing the work that National Grid is not equipped to do, or interested in doing, on their own.** 

I especially appreciate Perry's description of Mullen's work as "fervor," though I'm not quite sure what he means by it. (fervor defined:  intense and passionate feeling; zeal).  "Fervor" makes it sound like they are in a rush, doesn't it?  Was Mullen working with a little too much fervor and too little caution when a worker of theirs accidently ruptured the gas line in Wappingers, destroying an apartment building and rendering a bunch of people homeless and in the hospital?  Also, if Mr. Perry uses words like "should," "hopefully" and "imagine," you can bet that the project will actually last long past "early May" and "late summer!" 

"Fervor, fellas!  We need more FERVOR!"

One wonders how many and what blocks of State and 4th streets Mullen will soon be working on, and why our Great Communicator on Zoom couldn't offer any helpful details.  He either wasn't given any specifics from Mullen or National Grid about those two streets (doubtful!) or he just wasn't interested in revealing the big picture to the council and the public (no surprise there!).

Our Great Communicator on Zoom also failed to mention the bigger big picture: whether National Grid/Mullen plans on replacing gas lines throughout the entire city.  (I mean, why wouldn't they be planning on covering the entire city?)  Unsurprisingly, no council members bothered to ask Mr. Perry about this -- there was nothing but complete silence from the 11-member council after Mr. Perry's offered his information. (How about: "Mr. Perry, do you know if the gas service lines to every property, as well as every gas main line under all of our streets, are slated to be replaced?  Is the entire city part of this project, and if so, were you told how many years this will take to complete?")  

Perry also failed to mention when someone will be repaving the streets that Mullen has excavated and filled with rough, temporary asphalt-- including all of Green Street, 1 block of Columbia, the disgraceful 200 block of State Street**, 3 blocks of Warren, a few blocks of 3rd Street (what a mess S. 3rd Street is again!!!) and some side streets.  Again, collective silence from the Common Council as not one member asked Mr. Perry when this all might happen.  If someone had bothered to ask, Perry probably would have replied, "You know, I imagine it should hopefully happen soon."  And that would have been a satisfactory answer for the entire council, including the so-called Council President Tom Depietro.

200 block of State Street late last year, 
thanks to Talham, Inc.

In the crosswalk at 3rd & State

**National Grid performed all the gas line replacement work in the 200 block of State Street and a portion of 3rd just north of State without the help of any contractors.  It took them several months to complete their task, from July through November, I believe.  When NG was done, a contractor from Troy by the name of Talham, Inc. paved over the trench and holes in the street and on the sidewalks with concrete in December.  Concrete in the street!  The entire block of the street surface, which was already a cracked mess, is now a disgraceful, ugly and dangerous mess, including the pedestrian crosswalk at 3rd Street.  Late last year, in response to a council member's complaint about the condition of the street, Robert Perry said that the surface would be "milled and paved."  Once again, wouldn't you know, Perry was either misinformed or lying, because neither milling nor proper paving took place.  Concrete covering a trench in the street is not proper repaving, and Mr. Perry knows this.

State Street today, where the concrete remains
and still no "milling and paving" has happened,
even though it was promised last year
by our Great Communicator on Zoom!

 For $115,000 a year, one would expect our DPW Superintendent to at least offer something helpful -- WITHOUT IT BEING FORCED OUT OF HIM!!!! -- such as this:  You know, I understand that a few of our streets are in pretty rough shape because of all the gas line replacement work that has been going on for the past several months.  Here is what I know: all the streets where trenches and holes have been dug will be repaved by (fill in the date) by (fill in paving contractor's name).  This is what I have been told by National Grid and I will expect them to stick to this schedule.  I will fill the council and public in on this every month until the project is completed, especially if changes are made.

But, instead, what information do we get from our Great Communicator on Zoom regarding our rough streets?  NOTHING!!!  $115,000 and NOT A SINGLE WORD!  It's getting more and more difficult to know what to expect from City Hall these days.  

Our GCZ, showing National Grid and their
contractor(s) around Warren Street in
early September

National Grid, a company by the name of Reconn Utility Services, Inc., Bob Talham, Inc. and J. Mullen & Sons (and possibly one more company) have all been involved in National Grid's gas line replacement work here in Hudson.  Too many cooks in the kitchen?