Introduction

Welcome to the Town of Colonie Department of Public Works (DPW) Bureau of Engineering. The Bureau of Engineering was established in 1997 with the main function of providing Engineering Services including, but not limited to, highway and drainage, buildings and facilities, solid waste disposal, water and sewer facilities and such other Engineering Services as may be directed by the Town Board.

We strive to provide Engineering Services to the DPW Divisions and all Town Departments, Committees, Boards and the general public such that efficiencies can be realized in streamlining Permit Processing and Plan Review, in improved planning and coordination of all Public Works projects and Town-wide Capital Projects, in coordinating inspection services for Town-wide infrastructure and in the enhancement of Program Management Services. The result of obtaining these efficiencies will be a more effective, productive, committed workforce in the Town of Colonie.

Bureau Staffing and Responsibilities

The DPW Bureau of Engineering, under the direction of the Commissioner of Public Works, consists of five (5) employees. Four (4) Technical positions, Civil Engineer, Senior Engineering Technician, and two Public Works Operations Technicians provide site plan and subdivision review, project design services, project management, administration, coordination and inspection, capital project reviews, programs management and mapping services. The Bureau of Engineering also provides engineering services to various Town committees and boards such as the Highway Safety Committee, the Facilities Planning Committee, the Town Board, the Planning Board, the Zoning Board and SEAMAB. The Administrative Aide handles all clerical duties within the Bureau such as telephone communications, word processing, filing, account management and all budgetary paperwork. The Commissioner of Public Works has direct supervision over each of these six employees in addition to having administrative oversight responsibility for the DPW Divisions of Highways, Pure Waters, Environmental Services and Latham Water District. The Commissioner of DPW is also the liaison between the Town of Colonie and the State of New York and the Town of Colonie and Albany County for all infrastructure projects and intermunicipal issues and also has the powers and duties of the Highway Superintendent pursuant to Highway Law.

Public Assistance

From time to time residents and property owners in the Town of Colonie experience problems with their infrastructure such as leaking water lines, blockage in sanitary sewer lines, blockage in drainage lines and surface water problems. In each of these instances, the DPW Bureau of Engineering will assist residents and property owners in the determination of public or private ownership of the infrastructure and the maintenance responsibilities. The Department of Public Works will provide maintenance in the public infrastructure areas, however, DPW cannot legally provide such maintenance on private property. If you have a problem, please give us a call.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you please tell me where the DPW Bureau of Engineering is located?

The Bureau is located in The Public Operations Center Building at 347 Old Niskayuna Road, at the corner of Wade Road and Old Niskayuna Road in Latham. Our office is located on the second floor at the southern end of the building.

2. Can you please tell me when my street will be resurfaced?

The DPW Bureau of Engineering provides Program Management Services for the Town of Colonie Highway Paving Program. The DPW Division of Highways has a yearly paving program in the Town of Colonie based on a Pavement evaluation Scoring System developed several years ago for municipalities whereby each Town road is given a score from 1 to 10 based on the pavement condition. A score of 10 indicates a newly paved road whereas a score of 1 would indicate that the road was not passable by a vehicle. Fortunately, in the Town of Colonie, our lowest rated roads are a condition 5 and these roads become a priority for the Paving Program on a yearly basis within the confines of our budget allocation. We can always tell you if your street will or will not be paved in the current calendar year and we can usually project to the next calendar year whether your street is scheduled to be paved.

3. I have a drainage problem, can you help me?

The DPW Bureau of Engineering provides Program Management Services for the Town of Colonie Storm Sewer Management Program. The DPW Division of Highways maintains drainage on Town owned public roads, on Town owned property and within areas where the Town of Colonie has an easement for the maintenance of drainage systems. The Division will provide maintenance in these public areas, however, the Division cannot legally provide drainage maintenance on private property. The Department of Public Works will assist property owners in the determination of public or private ownership and maintenance responsibilities.

4. Can you tell me when my street will be swept?

The DPW Division of Highways provides street sweeping services for Town Highways. Please contact the Division of Highways with any questions or concerns you may have with this service at 783-2795.

5. Can you tell me when my leaf and brush will be picked up?

The DPW Division of Environmental Services runs the leaf and brush pickup for Town Residents. Please contact the Division of Environmental Services with any questions or concerns you may have with their service at 783-2827.

6. I have heard about a new highway being constructed in the Town. Do you have project plans?

The Commissioner of Public Works is the liaison between the Town of Colonie and the State of New York and the Town of Colonie and Albany County for all infrastructure projects and intermunicipal issues within the Town. Typically, the DPW Bureau of Engineering maintains infrastructure plans for all Town, County and State projects beginning at the preliminary engineering phase. If we have plans for a project of interest to you, we would be happy to share them with you. Please give us a call at 783-6292.

How to contact the DPW Bureau of Engineering

The Town of Colonie DPW Bureau of Engineering is located on the second floor of the Public Operations Center Building. Our hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Mailing Address:
Public Operations Center Building
347 Old Niskayuna Road
Latham, New York 12110

Telephone Number:
(518) 783-6292

E-Mail:
pworks@colonie.org

Fax Number:
(518) 785-3529

Last updated 1/31/08
URL:http://www.colonie.org/engineering