FREWSBURG – Carroll Town Board members will hold a public work session and informational meeting at 6 p.m. June 24 regarding Highway Department contract negotiations and the department’s unionization.

The department has been represented in the past by the IBEW, though a Public Employee Relations Board opinion filed in 2023 as part of an employee matter showed the union’s grip on the Highway Department wasn’t very right. According to a Facebook post recently by Timothy Burkett, Carroll town supervisor, the Highway Department is trying to transition to the Teamsters for union representation. More information will be available at the meeting, Burkett said in his Facebook post.

According to a 2023 Post-Journal report, legal documents filed in an employee matter that was eventually settled in arbitration by the Public Employee Relations Board said Carroll Highway and Water department employees signed cards in November 2021 saying they wanted to be represented by IBEW Local 106, with the town passing a resolution in January 2022 recognizing the IBEW as the bargaining representative for the employees. In August 2022, some Highway Department employees indicated they no longer wanted IBEW representation. One employee then changed his mind and rejoined the IBEW, which gave the IBEW enough members in the units to shift bargaining power back to the IBEW. The arbitrator also gave the IBEW a one-year period of unchallenged representation of the employees once it was certified at the start of 2022 regardless of the changing composition of its membership as employees joined, left and rejoined. That period has since expired.

In other news, Chad Allison, highway superintendent, discussed with board members during their May meeting a proposal to install a crosswalk on Institute Street by the parking lot and pool area. Councilman Justin Lingenfelter said Frewsburg Central School students walk to the Frewsburg Lanes and cross Institute Street at the pool entrance. Lingenfenter said the area should also be designated a school zone. Eventually, the board decided that two crosswalks should be installed along Institute Street in coordination with the school.

Allison also discussed “duck crossing” signs that were vouchered by the Highway Department to be installed on Wheeler Hill Road. Allison said a resident in the area has complained about manure trucks traveling at alleged high speeds in the area, expressing concerns for their animals. The resident hoped the crossing sign will alert drivers to be looking out for animals crossing the road.

Kaylee Constantino, a kindergarten teacher at Robert H. Jackson Elementary School, was approved to return as summer recreation program director. The program will be held from July 6 through Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The daily rate is increasing to $3 per day to help pay for the program. A summer pass costing $60 a student is available. The program is open to all Carroll children in kindergarten through seventh grade who attend Frewsburg Central School or who are homeschooled and live within the school district. The YMCA will bring free lunch to the town park at noon each day.