Berggren Steps in as Interim Highway Super

There’s a new man organizing the snow plows and taking care of the roads in the Town of Newfield. Glenn Casterline, former Highway Superintendent, resigned at the end of 2008 and Kevin Berggren was appointed as the new Deputy Superintendent. Berggrem will be acting superintendent until someone is hired.

Casterline announced his resignation a few days before Christmas, said Richard Dolge, town trustee. Dolge said he was not extremely surprised.

“There was some indication that he was going to be retiring,” Dolge said. “I had asked him during the budgetary process, which was in October, whether he intended to finish his term and he didn’t answer.”

Casterline entered the position in January 2005 to replace former superintendent Roy Westmiller, who also left the position a year early. Casterline was officially elected as the Highway Superintendent in November 2005 to serve until the end of 2009. He served until the end of 2008.

Casterline was unavailable for comment but said in his letter of resignation presented to the board, “Serving the Newfield community has been a good experience and one that I hope will have a lasting impression. I look forward to retirement to enjoy a little rest and relaxation with our loved ones and friends, do some traveling and enjoy the outdoors with some hunting and fishing.”

Dolge said in late December that the board expected to fill the position quickly and was looking at all its options.

“We expect that there will be internal candidates but hopefully there will be some external candidate as well,” he said.

As of the board’s meeting on January 8, there were 13 applicants from as far away as Florida. The board met in executive session following its regular meeting to narrow the candidate pool down to applicants it would like to interview. The board of trustees will appoint a new highway superintendent but the position will be up for public election in November.

Until a new superintendent is hired Kevin Berggren will serve as acting superintendent. Berggren was appointed as Deputy Highway Superintendent by the town board at a special meeting on December 30 and became the acting superintendent on January 1.

Traditionally deputies are chosen by the superintendent and approved by the board each January. Former Deputy Highway Superintendent Rodney Williams would have become acting superintendent but was replaced after the board realized he did not have his water certification, an oversight on the board’s part in early 2008. The town’s job description requires the superintendent and deputy to be water certified, which Berggren is.

When Berggren was interviewed and appointed Charlie Berggren, town supervisor, left the room because the two are related.

Copyright Finger Lakes Community Newspapers