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Drivers’ pothole claims against city up to $6K  

  BY HALEY VICCARO Gazette Reporter  
      The city of Schenectady has received about 20 claims since the beginning of the year totaling nearly $6,000 from people who sustained damage to their vehicles from potholes.  
   The majority of claims against the city since January have come from people who suffered vehicle damage. Several people cited potholes on Erie Boulevard, Altamont Avenue and Albany Street, among others.    
   The claims range from $46 to $962. Damage cited in the claims includes flat tires, bent rims and broken tire sensors.  
   People can file claims against the city in an attempt to recoup the cost for repairs, but Corporation Counsel Carl Falotico said many of the claims typically get dismissed.  
   “I don’t see very many cases where there are payouts,” he said. “It comes down to whether there was a prior notice of the pothole       and if the damage makes sense with what they’re alleging.”  
   For the city to consider claims regarding pothole damage, the pothole had to be reported to the city previously, Falotico said. If the pothole wasn’t reported before, the city is not liable for the damage.  
   That means people probably reported potholes on busier roads, like Erie Boulevard.  
   If the pothole was reported, the city would investigate the claim and make a determination as to whether the city is liable. If the city approves a claim, the person who submitted it would receive a check for repairs.    
   If repairs total more than $500, the City Council would have to approve the payout, Falotico said.  
   Mayor Gary McCarthy said the city is trying to stay ahead of the pothole problem. He said city employees are constantly working to fill them.  
   “It was a severe winter and it’s the nature of living in the Northeast,” he said. “This year we did some cold patch and we did some potholes with the Crafco Patcher machine. But we’re not completely caught up yet.”  
   McCarthy said the city     milled the top layer of several streets to eliminate potholes, leaving the surface a little rough. Those streets would be paved later as part of the city’s paving program.  
   Councilman Vince Riggi said during a City Council meeting Monday evening that he doesn’t remember a time when the streets were so badly riddled with potholes. He said he isn’t seeing them getting filled either.  
   “We have to fix the potholes,” he said. “I know I’m hearing from people that they don’t want to come into Schenectady because of the potholes. Now a lady is filling her own potholes.     We have to address this.”  
   Elaine Santore, founder and executive director of Umbrella of the Capital District on Broadway, said she filled a handful of potholes on Broadway and North Center Street on Monday and Tuesday. Santore took a creative approach to filling the holes — she filled them with dirt and planted pansies.  
   Locations where people claim vehicles were damaged over the past three months include: Albany Street; Altamont Avenue; Chapel Street; Clinton Street; Crane Street; the corner of Elliott Avenue and Consaul Road; Guilderland Avenue, in front of Bond Funeral Home; Erie Boulevard, before overpass; Erie Boulevard, in front of Mike’s Hot Dogs; Erie Boulevard, toward General Electric     and I-890; Erie Boulevard, between overpass and Union Street; Erie Boulevard, between Union Street and Nott Street; intersection of Wendell Avenue, Nott Street and Rosa Road; Rosa Road, between Nott Street and Wendell Avenue; McClellan Street; and Weaver Street.  
   As part of the 2015 paving program, the city plans to pave a total of about 10 miles of streets. Paving would start early next month, according to city engineer Chris Wallin.  
   Three of the streets where people claim they have damaged their cars are on the paving list — Albany Street, Altamont Avenue and Crane Street. Erie Boulevard is not on the list.  
   Later this week the city expects to fill major potholes on Erie with hot material, which is significantly better than the cold patch, Wallin said. Cold patch was previously used to tend to potholes on Erie.    
   The city is looking to mill certain areas of Erie where potholes are not filled with hot material, Wallin said. Sections of the street would be milled with about an inch of overlay.  
   Wallin said Erie Boulevard will be under significant stress with the anticipated construction traffic from the Mohawk Harbor development, the start of construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Erie Boulevard and Nott Street, and future plans to replace a water line under Erie.

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If the pothole was reported, the city would investigate the claim and make a determination as to whether the city is liable

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As part of the 2015 paving program, the city plans to pave a total of about 10 miles of streets. Paving would start early next month, according to city engineer Chris Wallin.  
   Three of the streets where people claim they have damaged their cars are on the paving list — Albany Street, Altamont Avenue and Crane Street.Erie Boulevard is not on the list]

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