By Carol P. Bartold

Jul. 29, 2015:  "I'm constantly looking for things," said Victor Lema, general foreman at the Bronxville Department of Public Works (DPW). "I actually come here at all different hours and drive around. I try to see things that I can't see when the village is full of cars and people."  

Lema, a native and still a resident of Ossining, joined the DPW ten years ago after a 12-year career in retail management. Operating his own bathroom and kitchen remodeling business piqued his interest in the construction aspect of public works.  

"When I came to Bronxville," he said, "I fell in love with how beautiful the village is. That's what really drew me to Bronxville and made me say I have to be a part of this."  

Lema and the DPW crews work on a "never-ending" to-do list of village projects large and small, as well as respond to emergencies. He noted that the more he drives around the village, the more things he notices that he wants to take care of. "I just want to get as much done as possible he said," acknowledging that sometimes there are not enough hours in the day.  

"There is always something to be done," Lema said. "Weeding, cutting grass, building something, cleaning and repairing catch basins. We always have things besides emergencies to take care of."  

Some of the larger current projects on the DPW's summer list include finishing the new curbing and sidewalk work on Paxton Avenue and tackling the replacement of the yellow brick roadway on Park Avenue. Lema said that he has met with the contractor for that job and the goal is to finish work before school reopens in September.  

Lema explained that DPW has a vital role in the Kensington Road development project. The department takes an active part in the project when the contractors need streets or intersections blocked off to move large construction equipment onto or remove it from the site. "We have to coordinate with the police department and make sure residents' access is not interrupted," he said.  

In addition, Lema said, DPW is responsible for ensuring that contractors at the Kensington Road site follow the proper steps to keep the general area clean and safe.  

As well as repaving part of Paxton Avenue, the DPW plans to resurface Garden Avenue, Midland Avenue from the Midland Gardens driveway to just past the Kraft Avenue intersection, and Kraft Avenue from St. Joseph's Church to Midland Avenue. Lema added that, with plans for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Midland Valley Drainage Project hopefully moving ahead, he does not want to pave Midland Avenue any farther toward Pondfield Road only to have to rip it up.  

"We really have to plan ahead when we know another project is coming up," Lema said. He described paving plans for Kraft Avenue as being dependent on Consolidated Edison, which intends to install new gas pipes beneath the street.  

According to Victor Lema, "The Village of Bronxville has a certain standard that we have to maintain. That's one of the reasons I have really enjoyed working here. That standard is something I want to be part of."

Pictured here:  Victor Lema.

Photo by N. Bower