Staff
All of the employees at the Hicksville Water District play a pivotal role in the utility's ability to provide service 24/7 for some 16,000 homes and businesses. Although some work in more than one area, all are trained professionals in their various jobs and are dedicated to ensuring the best quality water for consumers. Just like any good team requires that everyone work together to reach a common goal, so too does the water district staff work to bring you a non-stop flow of drinking water.
Superintendent
Cross Connection Team
Office Staff
Meter Readers
Mechanic
Plant Operators
Water Service Department
Superintendent William (Bill) Schuckmann
Water District Superintendent William (Bill) Schuckmann is a familiar face in Hicksville, where he has dedicated much of his life to the betterment of the community. He has been part of the Hicksville Water District team for nearly 35 years, where he began as a laborer and rose through the ranks to the top post of superintendent. In his current position, he is affiliated with many professional associations such as the Long Island Water Conference, the New York State Water Conference and the American Water Works Association.
He is also proud to be a third-generation member of the Hicksville Fire Department, where his grandfather was also a member of Engine Co. # 2 and his father volunteered for Companies # 5 and #6. Schuckmann joined the department in 1971, rising through the ranks from lieutenant to captain of Floodlight Rescue Co. # 8. He had the honor of serving as chief of the department from 1986 to 1987. The following year, he was elected fire commissioner and served the district with distinction for three full terms. His extensive experience with the fire department has proven useful for his career with the water district, since the functions of the two frequently intersect.
‘Bill’ has been an active member and has served two times as president of the Hicksville/Jericho Rotary Club (2001-02 & 2006-07). He is also affiliated with the Hicksville Community Council, the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce and has been appointed by the Town of Oyster Bay as a committee member to its Hamlet Plan to Revitalize Downtown Hicksville. His 35 years of dedication and work with local service organizations and the Hicksville community earned Schuckmann the Hicksville Fire Department’s Service Award in 2002.
He and his wife Barbara reside in Hicksville and enjoy traveling during their leisure time.
Cross Connection Team
As supervisor of cross-connection, Bob Watterson's (pictured left) main responsibility is to protect the integrity of the drinking water by overseeing the Hicksville Water District's Backflow Prevention Program. A veteran employee with more than 27 years of service to the district, he is certified by New York State as a backflow tester.
Everything connected to the public water supply can impact the purity of the water. Once the water enters the building, it is piped to a variety of places: sinks, toilets, boilers, outdoor faucets, swimming pools, etc. Each of these locations is a cross-connection and the plumbing at each site must contain a backflow device to prevent water from accidentally going back into the main system.
Backflow could happen, for example, if a significant amount of water is drawn to fight a fire or if a water main breaks, causing the pressure to drop. At the same time, a garden hose left in a pool or connected to a chemical sprayer could cause the water and chemicals to get drawn back into the main water supply, unless a backflow device is installed and working properly.
It is required that the devices be tested annually by a certified state inspector. As a courtesy, the Hicksville Water District sends reminder notices about annual testing to property owners and requests reports of the latest results, which become part of the district’s database. Those who need to install backflow devices should call the district first for guidelines.
The crucial oversight performed by Bob Watterson and back-up inspector Jim Fiore (pictured right) helps ensure that backflow devices are installed where they are supposed to be and working properly. It is another prime example of the many safeguards used by the water district to maintain the high water quality in Hicksville.
Office Staff
If you’ve ever visited Hicksville Water's offices, you’ve probably come in contact with at least one of the four members of the district's “inside” staff.
Clerks Sam VonGerichten (left), Nancy Saal (second from left) and Joan Kani (right), along with Account Clerk Doreen Brunning provide the critical support needed to keep the water district’s administrative operations running smoothly. Their clerical, organizational and communication skills make them an asset to each and every department.
Answering phones, processing the bills, manning the front counter for those who choose to pay their bills in person and fielding questions from customers regarding every facet of water service are just a few of the tasks they handle. Have a question regarding winterizing the pipes in your home? Want to know where to pick up a free water conservation kit? Sam, Nancy and Joan will get you the information you’re looking for.
Doreen also works closely with the board of water commissioners, handling the minutes of official meetings and taking care of many of the financial and bookkeeping tasks.
Hicksville Water District customers are in good hands the members of the office team. Above all, they have established an excellent rapport with customers, an essential part of running the office efficiently.
Meter Readers
Lead by Jim Fiore, a small department of four is responsible for overseeing and repairing the water meter at each connection throughout the district’s 7.9 square miles.
(pictured left to right) Meter technicians Walter Telender Jr., Charlie DiStefano and William Kelly read anywhere from 200 to 400 accounts a day, in addition to performing other duties that help keep the district running smoothly. Generally, 10 working days out of the month are devoted to conducting quarterly meter readings. The rest of the time is spent fixing water mains, maintaining the district’s 1,600 fire hydrants, addressing customer needs, repairing meters and related equipment and changing accounts over to the new remote reading meters.
With a NY State 1B Plant Operator's licence, Fiore has worked for the district since 1986. In his current position he distributes meters to new accounts and is responsible for replenishing the district’s supplies. He also personally conducts meter tests for homeowners when there are questions about the equipment’s accuracy.
So, next time Hicksville Water District technicians are in your area reading meters, don’t hesitate to say “hello!” You can be sure they are working in the interest of good service and providing a continuous supply of a good quality product.
Mechanic
It's Bill Sullivan's job as mechanic to care for and maintain all the vehicles and equipment utilized by the Hicksville Water District. With his 27 years of experience, Sullivan is responsible for the upkeep of 24 vehicles, including three dump trucks and two backhoes, as well as the saws, pumps and road restoration equipment needed to keep the water district functioning at its highest level.
Since he first started working for the district 12 years ago, Sullivan has made it his goal to “stay ahead of the game” and keep all of the equipment well-serviced before something goes wrong—instead of waiting for a breakdown. He is proud of the excellent condition in which the vehicle fleet is kept and he intends to keep it that way.
Plant Operators
Senior Water Plant Operator Stanley Goscinski (left), employed by the Hicksville Water District since 1971, holds 1B and D licenses from New York State. Together with Assistant Plant Operators Chris Moskos (center) and Thomas Ofenloch, they work year round to ensure residents have a clean, abundant water supply and uninterrupted service, even if it means sacrificing a good night’s sleep. In fact, a ringing phone waking up the crew in the middle of the night is not unheard of, especially during severe weather conditions.
A blizzard or thunderstorm can sometimes cause a plant's power to be compromised, which could result in a loss of service, so the operators are always on call to troubleshoot and get the equipment up and running quickly.
Additionally, plant operators make daily rounds to all 11 well sites to log the pumpage, check the pH levels and chemical treatments and maintain the pumps. In addition to physically checking each site, the operators are able to monitor them through a computer system located at the district offices. The staff is also responsible for advising contracted engineers hired to install new control systems or pumping equipment.
The Hicksville Water District prides itself on high standards and top quality and it doesn’t stop with the employees it hires.
Water Service Department
For those who work in the Hicksville Water District's service department, the winter season means bitter cold nights, being on-call at all hours and one of the most unpredictable times of the year. It is this team that is responsible for maintaining and repairing water service lines, mains and hydrant service for the entire district. The group is led by Foreman John Caglione (left), who joined the district in 1978 and holds a 1B New York State plant operators license. Also pictured are (left to right) Jason Tare, Chris Moskos, Ed Larkin and George Benson.
Typically, there are considerably more problems and leaks during the winter months, mainly in the early morning hours, the culprit being usually low temperatures that set in before dawn, when most of the community is sleeping.
On cold days, the frost that forms on the ground causes water mains to freeze, a problem that rarely discriminates as to the day it arises, causing the service personnel to be out in the field on holidays such as Christmas and New Year’s Day if necessary.
However stressful the winter months may be, the team is on the lookout yearlong for problems that may arise, replacing valves and making sure everything is running smoothly on a daily basis.
Whatever the weather conditions, whatever the time of day or night, the Hicksville Water service department team is prepared to handle any challenge Mother Nature sends their way to ensure that the water continues to flow.
