The Latest Word From City Hall On The Repair Of Our New LED Streetlights. The $hitshow Continues!

According to the only helpful person in the Hudson Mayor's Office, as told to me on Tuesday morning, the city will now be hiring an electrician to repair streetlights that are out.  This will apparently be a solo electrician, not the electrical contractor, Leggett, which was mentioned in HUDseen's March 1st article about the streetlight repair mess we are in.  Leggett didn't work out, apparently, and Rob Perry keeps changing his tune. 

How can such a small city be run so poorly and wastefully?

This almost unbelievable claim -- the need for the city to hire an electrician to repair the streetlights that DPW has been responsible for since August -- came from the mouth of our DPW Superintendent via the Mayor's aide, though Rob Perry has never mentioned anything of the sort at any meetings since National Grid switched out the old incandescent streetlight bulbs for LED bulbs last summer, then handed the responsibility of each and every streetlight in the city to DPW. Apparently, this electrician we are hiring once worked for the city, though I understand that he will be used on an as-needed basis, not as a city employee.

About one week ago, I noticed these two adjacent lights on North 5th were out.  DPW was made aware the following day.  Let's see how long it takes someone to get them working again.  Keep in mind that the new LED bulbs DPW is supposedly responsible for are "supposed to last ten years," according to the DPW clerk I spoke with last year.

If the need to hire someone to fix our streetlights (yes, even replacing dead LED bulbs, apparently!) 7 months after the city took over responsibility of the lights concerns, puzzles and/or infuriates you, here is Rob Perry's work cellphone number: 518-965-5235. Call him and try your best to confirm that what has been written here is true. And don't forget to ask him when he became aware, AND WHEN HE TOLD THE MAYOR and the COMMON COUNCIL, of DPW's NEED TO HIRE OUTSIDE HELP TO FIX AND REPLACE OUR NEW STREETLIGHTS. 

Here is the number to the mayor's phone found on his desk on the second floor of City Hall: 518-828-7217.  Or stop by City Hall to speak with the man-child in person, perhaps Kamal can confuse and exasperate you some more.  (Speak to Justin if you want a mature and professional conversation and answers.)  After your own questions to the mayor, consider asking him any or all of the following simple questions as well:

Wasn't the main purpose behind taking over ownership of the streetlights to save the city money in the long run?

How long have you known that DPW isn't able to repair or replace its own streetlights?  

When did you become aware that the city will have to hire someone to do this work for us?

How is this acceptable?  Because Rob Perry 
is a slob, that's how!

When he changed his mind about the electrical company in favor of a solo electrician, did Rob Perry give you and your aide a general idea of how much this is going to cost city taxpayers every year?

How much are you willing to spend on someone who is not a city employee fixing and replacing our streetlights?

Are you managing the city or just observing it?

Doesn't Rob Perry WORK FOR YOU?????