Creighton: ‘The Roads in Smithtown Are a Disaster’

Smithtown Councilman Robert Creighton thinks the roads in Smithtown are crumbling and plans to vote in favor of a $10 million bond to help get the town’s infrastructure back on track.

“The roads in Smithtown are a disaster,” said Creighton to members of the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce at Wednesday's meeting.

“Infrastructure in town is starting to crumble. You cannot allow the roads to slip away and the only way to fix that is through a bond,” he said.

Highway Superintendent bond, borrowing $5 million for 2012 and $5 million for 2013. The bond, if approved, would cost the average Smithtown homeowner an additional $1 a month in taxes, raising their taxes by approximately $12 a year for two years, according to Jorgensen.

According to councilman Ed Wehrheim, the bond would require a supermajority of four votes and does not need to go out for a public vote.

Town Supervisor, Patrick Vecchio, citing a $7.5 million highway budget and does not believe the town should borrow the money.

"We spend $7.5 million a year on road repairs, I really don't know how much more we can spend," Vecchio said.

"It is commendable for the supervisor to hold taxes to a minimum, but if we allow the roads to get worse than they are, according to Jorgensen, it will cost three times the amount to fix them," said Creighton.

Creighton said he has support on the bond from three board members.

"We need four votes and I am convinced we will get the fourth vote," he said.

Creighton said he expects an engineering report on the roadways this week. "Right after we get that, we intend to put it before the board for a vote," he said.