By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

Nearly two years after the shovels first hit the dirt, the town of Cicero has completed its new highway facility on Route 31.

Deputy Supervisor Vern Conway cut the ribbon on the C. Vernon Conway Highway Facility on Nov. 16, 2019. The town broke ground on the highway garage Nov. 27, 2017.

“Today we’re here to dedicate a building, but it’s more than that: Today we dedicate this to Cicero’s future,” Town Supervisor Mark Venesky said.

Dozens of residents, highway department employees, first responders and local elected officials gathered in the 65,000-square-foot garage last Saturday to celebrate its opening and the public servant for whom it is named.

“It’s a wonderful thing to have this building dedicated to Vern and his family as well,” Town Councilor Judy Boyke said. “It is phenomenal — a modern, up-to-date building. … It will speak to the other towns of the efforts involved of every single person: you, the taxpayer, myself and the town board, Supervisor Venesky, the highway department — endless hours over and above just to make sure this worked.”

Onondaga County Legislator Tim Burtis, who started his political career on the Cicero Town Board, spoke fondly of Conway as a friend and mentor. Burtis said the two first met at Conway’s lakeside business, Aero Marina Conway Inc., where they bonded over their love of hunting.

“I expected to find boats and banners, and I found them, but I also found very large [animal] heads on the wall. At that moment, I decided that Vern and I were going to get along just great,” Burtis said. “Vern, along the way, has been very helpful to me. His years of service are unmatched in the town of Cicero.

Conway’s decades-long career of public service has included stints as South Bay Fire Department chief and as a member of the planning board, zoning board of appeals and the town board.

“I think it’s fitting that today is the opening of gun season in the Southern Tier,” Burtis said of the highway garage ribbon cutting.

Conway was not the only person honored at the highway celebration. Building committee members Don Snyder, Don Bloss and Wayne Freeman were presented with plaques recognizing their contributions to the facility. Boyke said the committee has devoted “thousands of hours” to the project over the years.

Cicero Highway Superintendent Chris Woznica and CSEA Local 834 Unit President Justin Petterson also thanked former town supervisor Jessica Zambrano for her role in making the building a reality.

“She’s the one that spearheaded this in 2014,” Woznica said.

“Jessica Zambrano really stepped to the plate, and Mark Venesky carried that torch,” Petterson said.

Petterson detailed some of the issues that plagued the previous highway garage: insufficient insulation leading to icicles and snow dropping off the roof, inadequate space for the town’s fleet and birds in the break room.

“It’s a dungeon,” Petterson said of the old building. “This is beautiful,” he added, gesturing to the spacious new facility.

Clay Town Supervisor Damian Ulatowski attended the grand opening.

Ulatowski said the highway garage would protect Cicero’s expensive equipment from harsh Central New York weather and extend the useful life of the fleet.

“This is wonderful for the highway department and more importantly … for the residents as well,” Ulatowski said. “One of the things that I learned today [is] they have a wash bay here. They’re telling me that can add four years to a truck. Let’s face it: Salt is corrosive.”

“Am I a little jealous? I have to say that I am,” Ulatowski added.

Ulatowski said he is looking forward to continue working with Cicero and other municipalities.

Scott Bova, director of architecture for the MRB Group, said the new building comes with enhanced security features and is built to accommodate expansion of the town’s fleet in the future.

“We’re excited to see this building serve for generations to come,” Bova said.