“I’m excited,” said Marilee Stollery of her win Tuesday night to take over as Ontario’s new Highway Superintendent. “…and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into the job.”
Twenty-five years ago, Stollery began in her position as the clerk/typist for the Ontario Highway Department, under the tutelage of her first boss, Albie Blythe.
“It was a year where we learned a lot together…it was the year of the ice storm,” Marilee remembered. She confided that, beside Blythe, an Ontario Councilwoman, Gail Adair, who was the liaison to the Highway Department, at that time, taught her a great deal about reports and accounts.
“It was also an election year, and beginning in 1992, my new boss was Bill Slocum. “I spent 16 years working for Bill. Not only did he teach me the full range of ‘what we do’ at the Highway Department, but he would take me out on jobs often. I learned about drainage, and in 1993 I started working with the newly formed Watershed Committee” said Stollery.
When the job started out, Marilee worked 20 hours a week with the assessor and 20 hours a week with highway. There were reports, accounting, data entry and payroll as well. “I learned municipal accounting from the bottom up,” she admitted.
Over the years, Marilee absorbed and studied the workings of other departments in the town as well, and how they all worked together.
When she heard that current Highway Superintendent Jerry Santangelo was going to retire, she stepped right up to announce her intention to vie for the job. “I actually mentioned running 8 years prior to this, when Bill (Slocum) stepped down, but I knew Jerry wanted the job, and I just bided my time. I just waited.,” she said.
Then this year, when Jerry decided to retire, I announced my intentions. I had every confidence in my ability to do the job – and do a good one!” said the soon to be First woman Superintendent in Upstate New York.
“Many questioned my ability and my intention not to be a driver as well as a Superintendent. I do not feel that this job is meant to be done outside the office. I know I can lead and supervise and oversee the crew from here. How would I know what the immediate needs are on the road, when I am not available to take the calls. How can I assist the citizens, if I do not stay here to answer their calls. If there is an emergency during a snow storm, I cannot say “Wait til I get back in a couple of hours, and I will handle the situation then.” “I can’t lead and assess problems, if I am out of the building.”
“I know how to order equipment and write notices for bids. I understand ordering on salt, and what needs to be done to maintain equipment.”
She made another pointed response to a crew member who questioned why she would not be a driver. “If I get my CDL License and drive a plow or truck, that would take away someone else’s job – maybe yours,” she reasoned.
She did acknowledge that she can drive a pick up, and she even owns and operates her own backhoe.
Marilee will supervise a staff of 8 men, all full time, and all MEO laborers (Machine Equipment Operators).
How will she handle the hours, especially in the winter months? “I’ll be fine, I get up at 4:00 am now. I think I will practice waking up earlier, now until the end of the year to prepare. I am a hands-on person and I want to be in the mix. I will be there when they (the crew) are there.”
Stollery said she was pleased when a former retired highway crew member stepped up to run against her. “It was a good test of my stamina and my perseverance. I worked very, very hard to win this election. I did not want anyone to think I was just given this job. I went door-to-door campaigning and letting people know I was up to the job. I know what I am doing.”
How did she handle the lack of acceptance of her new role coming from some of her staff. “I heard there were some of my staff who were definitely not happy that I won. I told them “You know your job, just do it. We are all here to do our job and we are all here to serve our customers – the people of Ontario. If you don’t like me, get over it. Our job is to keep our roads safe. I know I deserve to be here.”
Stollery and her entire family, 2 sisters and 1 brother ran a hard campaign. “They were my biggest advocates,” she gushed. “It was a 7 week trek with dogs and slammed doors and aching feet, but it was worth it to get to meet and hear and talk to the taxpayers.”
“Bill Slocum and Jerry Santangelo were very big supporters also. They took time to talk to the area farmers, for instance, and assured them that I knew the job and would do it well.”
Marilee is now waiting for the town to hire a replacement for her old position as clerk for the Department. “Much as I am hands-on and know the reports, I cannot do both jobs. I will encourage them to find someone qualified. I do have a person in mind. We will see. I have some time now to help acclimate someone to the job before the first of the year.”
Will she dress differently for the new Superintendent’s job. “Not really. I learned years ago to dress for the atmosphere here, not just in “office attire”. It can be dirty and dusty. I have my yellow work coat, and I will probably get myself a good pair of boots.”
Marilee will attend Highway School, but she says she is already up on the latest laws and equipment. She has met with an called several of the area Highway Superintendents to chat.
She is very grateful to the Ontario Republican Committee for their commitment and support and is especially grateful to her supporters and the voters who helped her earn her decisive victory on Election night. “I am so thankful for my supporters. I could not have done this without them.”
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