Dangerous Road Needs Signage, Officials Say - Davenport Organizes

DAVENPORT - Davenport Town Council met on Jan. 21 and discussed options for slowing traffic on Rathbun Hill Road. Highway Superintendent Fred Utter reported 28 car accidents on the road since Thanksgiving. "It's too steep and people don't realize and slam the brakes," he said. 

The council agreed some flashing signs might help avoid future incidents. Utter suggested flashing yellow lights near the steep area of the roadway.

Councilmember Mark Miller suggested a sign that states there is a steep incline.

Utter will research solar-powered signage and pricing.

In Other business: 

Utter was permitted to purchase a new truck without a plow attachment for roughly $64,000. The department received three quotes and will inspect the truck in person before purchase. The town received a $51,000 donation from the Lomangino family in honor of their late father Leo Lomangino. The donation was intended for highway department equipment.

The highway department will receive a separate credit card with a $5,000 limit following purchasing issues with the card shared with town hall. The department urgently needed to purchase a new pump earlier this month and were unable to as the limit to the shared card was reached. While that situation was managed, Supervisor Tim Kelso hopes a secondary card will alleviate future issues.

The discussion on updating or keeping the website was tabled for another month.

The town received a quote of $15,800 for water district repairs. With Councilmember Norman Schubert, who heads the project, absent, Kelso asked to table the discussion.

The following appointments and designations were made at the organizational meeting on Jan. 7:

Tomi Tompkins, code officer, Eric Lutz, justice, Karen Smith, justice clerk, Jayne Schwieket, historian, Councilmember Jacklyn Losie, deputy town supervisor, Chad Winne, dog control, Jim Coors, health officer, Jacob Sackett, interim attorney, Carol Malz, water district bookkeeper, Karen Kropp, town bookkeeper, Councilmember Norm Schubert, water district chair. 

Clerk Linda Adam and Deputy Clerk Whitney Hood will share duties as registrar of vital statistics. 

Ron Beers, John Vagliardo, and Alex Ross were appointed town assessors.

Mark Utter was appointed deputy highway superintendent at a rate of $2,500 annually.

Joe Dianich was appointed to a five-year term on the Planning Board and Elise Caffrey will be the board secretary. 

The Daily Star and Mountain Eagle were designated official newspapers. 

NBT and Delaware National Bank of Delhi are the official depositories.

The council approved the contract for planning board support with the county for $3,500 annually.

Town meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.