Riverhead honors 2013 employee of the year

Longtime Riverhead Highway Department mechanic Mike Zaleski was honored at last night’s town board meeting as Riverhead Town employee of the year for 2013.

The Riverhead Labor-Management Committee makes the employee of the year selection based on criteria that include “heroism, unsung heroism, volunteerism, teamwork and leadership,” said Labor-Management Committee chairman Raymond Coyne.

Flanked by his wife Kim, son Ryan, and members of his extended family, as well as members of the labor-management committee and town board, Zaleski listened as Coyne read aloud from the nomination letter submitted by Zaleski’s supervisor at the highway department, Mark Gajowski.

“Michael is one of those employees who fills all of the above criteria year after year without blinking an eye,” Gajowski wrote. “He is steadfast, a diligent worker who is always there when needed. He is the guy to go to if you have any problems or need anything. He is punctual, caring and devoted to the things that come close to him: work, family and fun. Mike always goes above and beyond his duty statement, constantly impressing his coworkers and superiors with his ethics and attitude. He is very frugal with the town assets and expenses. He reuses items that most would discard long before,” he wrote. “He is a devoted dad to Ryan and his lovely wife Kim knows how deeply he appreciates her as well.”

Town Supervisor Sean Walter called Zaleski “a tremendous asset to the town.” He said employees like him make the job of town supervisor or highway superintendent easier.

“When you ask a man like Mike Zaleski to do something, you don’t have to think about it again. It’s done,” Walter said.

Highway Superintendent George Woodson agreed. He said Zaleski has been with the highway department for more than 15 years and described him as a go-to guy who gets “down and dirty” to keep the highway department’s fleet of vehicles and equipment in good working order, regardless of weather conditions or how many hours the crew must work nonstop.

Zaleski thanked the town board “for doing this first so I don’t have to sit through the rest of this meeting.” He thanked George Woodson and Mark Gajowski for nominating him.

“I also want to thank the Labor Management Committee for selecting me over all the other deserving town employees who go beyond their job title to serve this town — and trust me when I say this,” Zaleski said, “they do.”

Editor’s note: Mark Gujowski’s name was spelled incorrectly in the originally published version of this article. RiverheadLOCAL regrets the error.