By Jake Palmateer
ONEONTA _ The embattled director of Oneonta Public Transit resigned Tuesday, Mayor John Nader said.
Joe Richards, who earlier this month came under fire from dozens of OPT bus drivers and riders at a Common Council meeting, submitted his resignation at about 3 p.m., Nader said, following an executive session with the Common Council after Tuesday's regular meeting.
Nader said the city's central garage supervisor, Paul Patterson, will temporarily take on Richard's duties as OPT director in a part-time capacity. There will be a staff meeting today to discuss the personnel changes.
Nader said that since that charged meeting Sept. 1, he has met with drivers and Richards to resolve some of the concerns, which include driver access to a bathroom at the OPT station in Clinton Plaza; route changes; removal of a vending machine and alleged discourteous treatment of riders by Richards.
As recently as Monday, the city Personnel Committee met in an attempt to ease the tension.
In other business:
"¢ The Common Council approved the Memorial Walkway project by awarding a bid for its construction and passing a resolution outlining funding sources. The bid was awarded to Clark Companies of Delhi for $726,287.50. The total cost of the project, including engineering and administration expenses already incurred, is $802,000, according to the resolution.
The plan was modified after dozens of local residents raised concerns about the removal of trees and the project's cost. Fewer trees are being removed, and the plan was revised to reduce cost.
It is being paid for mainly through state grants and a private endowment gifted to the city for park improvements. Work is expected to begin with the next two weeks.
"¢ Aldermen voted unanimously to offer the chamberlain job to Delaware County resident Meg Hungerford. If she accepts the offer, Hungerford would become the fourth chamberlain the city has employed this year.
The Common Council previously appointed Bryan Gazda to replace David Martindale, who retired June 30. But Gazda resigned two weeks later after taking a higher-paying job with another municipality.
John S. Zielinski was hired last month to replace Gazda but submitted a letter of resignation two weeks later, citing health reasons.
Hungerford lives in East Meredith, and aldermen approved a local law granting an exception to the city's requirement the chamberlain live in Oneonta to allow her to take the job.
"¢ The Common Council awarded a $370,885 bid to Cobleskill Stone Products for the milling and paving of West End Avenue. Aldermen also set aside $224,000 in state highway funding and voted to issue $184,000 in municipal bonds to pay for the total estimated project cost of $408,000. The work is slated to begin this fall.
