Information
Highway Superintendent:
Dirk Lammes
Hours:
Monday – Thursday:
7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday:
7:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Contact:
Phone: (585)638-6570 x 4
Email: hwysupt@townofmurray.org
Mailboxes Damaged During Snow Removal
In the course of plowing during and after significant snowstorms, our Highway Department receives phone calls regarding damage to mailboxes, either from snowplows directly or from the force of snow being thrown by the plows. If such damage is indeed caused by snow removal, it is not done intentionally but is an unfortunate consequence of snow removal.
As far as replacing damaged mailboxes, it must be pointed out that there is no statutory or legal authority which grants a property owner or resident along a public highway any right to place a mailbox in a highway right-of-way. The mailbox is on town or county right of way as a courtesy to the postal service.
Thus, when the necessity of keeping the highway open conflicts with the individual’s reception of the mail, the latter must stand aside. The owner might even be compelled to remove the box under Highway Law #319.
From past experience, we have found that plastic mailboxes do not withstand the abuse of snow from the plows hitting them and are not recommended.
As a courtesy, the Highway Department will place a temporary box so that a resident can receive mail if their box is damaged by the plow. We will not replace a specialty mailbox or post.
Mailbox posts with ornate supports are not recommended as they stick down under the box and give the wing plow something to get hold of. A box mounted directly on top of a treated 4 x 4 is best.
The Town of Murray’s responsibility for State and county roads are as follows:
State Roads – The town contracts with the state for snow and ice control on Route 237 only. The state controls snow and ice on Route 104 and Route 31. The town also contracts with the state for roadside mowing on all state roads.
Resident Engineer – Pat Reinhold – Phone: (585)589-6655
County Roads – The town contracts with the county for snow and ice control on all county roads along with roadside mowing three times a year.
County Highway Superintendent – John Papponetti – Phone: (585)589-6145
Attention Residents:
We are asking that you please refrain from depositing grass clippings onto the roadway. Grass is considered an injurious material, that can be slippery and greasy, making it unsafe for anyone traveling on the road, especially for a motorcycle or bicycle. It’s dangerous…and also in New York State, it’s illegal.
Please see New York State Vehicle and traffic Law Sec. 1219:
“Putting glass or other injurious substances on highway prohibited, (a) No person shall throw or deposit upon any highway any glass bottle, glass, nails, tacks, wire, cans, snow or any other substance likely to injure any person, animal, or vehicle upon such highway, (b) Any person who drops, or permits to be dropped or thrown, upon any highway any destructive or injurious material or any material which interferes with the safe use of the highway shall immediately remove the same or cause it to be removed, (c) Any person removing a wrecked or damaged vehicle from a highway shall remove any glass or other injurious substance dropped upon the highway from such vehicle.”