CORTLAND Interim service director resigns

The contractor working to fix Fowler Street sewers has walked off the job.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CORTLAND -- After two weeks as interim service director, Richard Moy has asked to return to his old job doing skilled labor.
His short tenure took place as the city continued to wrangle with one developer and tried to have problems with recent projects fixed.
"He just felt completely overwhelmed by the position," said Mayor Melissa Long.
The resignation, accepted Monday, leaves Earl Smith, assistant superintendent of services, in charge until the city hires a permanent replacement for ex-service director Paul Makosky, who was fired last month.
In the meantime, work to correct an improperly constructed sewer line on Fowler Street has been stalled for two weeks after the contractor walked off the job.
Rudzik Excavating of Struthers was about one-third of the way into the task of replacing a line, installed just last summer, Long said.
Rudzik was working for Environmental Design Group, which admitted responsibility for improperly designing the sewer line in the first place, and whose insurance was covering the cost of replacing it, Long said.
"The issue is between the two companies," she said.
Pipes used for the first sewer line were not big enough around, officials say.
Drainage plans due
Also, today is the deadline for developer Anthony Petrocco to submit plans for fixing drainage problems in the new Shepherds Hill neighborhood. If plans are not submitted, he faces a fine of $100 a day.
Petrocco, whose family has been building homes in Cortland for 30 years, also is developing homes on Cedar Street, Long said. But the problems with the developer are contained to Shepherds Hill, she said.
"Anyone who knows Cortland for a period of time knows that it is a swampy area," the mayor added.