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NORTHBRIDGE, Mass. – A crew with front-end loaders worked overnight Monday removing snow piled high on Church Street, Department of Public Works Director James Shuris told the Board of Selectmen.
Selectmen received several complaints about the condition of Church Street, the town's business district, following last weekend's storm that dumped up to 30 inches of snow on New England.
Shuris said six DPW employees and three waste water treatment employees worked the town's 81 miles of road during the storm, helped by nine sub-contractors. The snow fell so quickly that plows could not keep up, he said.
And so much snow fell that, in areas like Church Street, there wasn’t anywhere to push the snow.
“The front-end loaders will lift the snow (into trucks) and take it away,’’ Shuris said.
To date, the town has spent more than $200,000 on snow removal, $125,000 more than the $75,000 budgeted, officials said. The DPW has responded to 16 snow/ice events and 62 inches of snow, Shuris said.
It costs $300 per day for town staff compared to $1,000 per day for sub-contractors, Shuris said. But it would take many more days for the small DPW staff to clean up from the storm, he said, so he’s hired outside help.
“We can’t wait for us to do the entire job," he said. “We’re not looking for a lot of people; we’re looking for patience.’’
Selectman Jay Athanas reminded residents they are required to shovel sidewalks in front of their homes and around fire hydrants, and he also suggested residents shovel drains.
A copy of the DPW’s snow and ice brochure is attached.
Comments (16)
Well, the weathermen are calling for a wet heavy snow for this coming weekend!
I wonder if the Highway Superintendent is getting ready as to where is he going to put the stuff considering half of the workers who are contracted don't know how to plow especially with the small trucks they use. Let's not forget the workers from the Sewer Department. They could use a lesson or two on how to lose the snow on a corner and how to start plowing a street in the middle and working your way to the edges when they're plowing. Last two storms, they started in on the edge of the roads and left the center of the road unplowed!
I have no problem with the storm response by the DPW. It was a nasty storm and people have to expect that it takes a while to recover from such an event; especially since the DPW isn't the main priority in any town.
That being said, I do have a bone to pick with the DPW. I recently called the town manager and also talked to Jim Shuris about the overabundance of salt being dumped on the town's roads. It wasn't just a case of applying too much. It was more of a case of laziness by someone applying it. At the ends of many streets, there laid a pile of salt because the driver never shut the spreader off when coming to a stop. Also, areas that should not be receiving large of amounts of salt were getting too much. No sooner than a couple of days after talking to Mr Shuris, there was a sizable pile of rock salt 30' long at the top of Carpenter Road. That salt is going to wash down and enter Carpenter Reservoir. Carpenter Reservoir directly enters Meadow Pond directly adjacent to the Carr Street wells. As our town has grown, we have an increased dependence on those wells. I have never really noticed this problem before. So, it looks to be a recent development. The veterans of the DPW have always taken great care in putting down salt. Something has changed and I would appreciate someone looking into it. My health and my truck would appreciate it.
crowneagle:
I remember when the Town shot down the $2.1 Million Dollar DPW proposal, at the Waste Water Treatment Plant at the Town Meeting in the Fall of 2010. Their was concerns about equipment being left outside in the outside elements.
Maybe the rust biobugs did a number on our Sanders dispersing nomenclature, so the spreader does not work properly?
Health Hazard some of the DPW building's are challenging, in the opinion of some?
16 snow/ice events and 62" inches of snow? When was this? That doesn't seem right. He wants it to sound like he dealt with so much more. I heard that he wasn't even here for alot of the storm. It's a long way from Princeton, you know and maybe he couldn't get here in his town owned vehicle.
The bump-outs were part of the original design and presented at numerous public meetings where anyone could attend and comment. Many did, which resulted in numerous changes during the design phase.
The original road through town did not meet street guidelines for road width, sidewalk width or accessibiltiy.
All three of those were corrected so that we have proper road width in both directions, sidewalks of proper width and accessibility for all regardless of the location of the bump-outs.
The bump outs were never part of or a requirment of the grant but a suggestion from the engineers who had done many other cities and towns.
Why would they be an impediment to snow plowing when the road is of proper width and that is the area that must be cleaned? Their main purpose was to give the illusion of impediment to slow down traffic.
When we first were given the task, after the original streetscape grant was procured by the town, we looked at possibly using the funds to correct the traffic problem at Plummers Corner rather than do the streetscape. We were told that was not possible.
We then looked at returning the funds as we weren't sure the town wanted a major reconstruction of the road through town with all it's interuptions.
We were informed that by returning the grant we would be eliminated from eligibillity for any other state offered grants.
When we did start on the design and work it was determined to do Rockdale first so that there would be more time for the design and comment period in Whitinsville.
We can not go back and re-do what has been done and speaking only for myself, one of seven members of the BPCC who were involved, I wouldn't.
It's only my opinion but I feel they add to the beauty of downtown along with the removal of the poles and wires. Which we were able to do throught the hard work and perseverance of an "international" engineer.
As for the deplorable conditions at the DPW-we offered two plans to correct that but were defeated and we have moved on. Also, most of the men don't work there, they work out of there doing the things that need to be done to keep our town up and they do it well.
Excellent points and clarification Mr. Davis, plus if I recall the Private Citizens that worked on the Street Scape project 'volunteered' all their time to the Town, at no cost to the Taxpayers.
Plus the majority of Taxpayers that I have spoken with prefer the way the Town looks now, in its Whitinsville and Rockdale Village area. I would think it would only be a minority that do not approve the new look, in my opinion the old look was some what depressing..
I for one think the DPW does a reasonable job with what they have. I think the "bumpouts" are a part of the problem and are ridiculous. These "streetscape" improvements make thinks look pretty but can be impractical. I question the ability of the architect used. Remember it takes resources (money) to keep our streets clear. Everyone can help by clearing sidewalks in front of their homes (as required by law), and voting some money for the DPW.
Given the deplorable conditions at the DPW facility, that we make these guys work in, we are lucky they do anything for us!!!!!
Record will show that an "international" engineer "on high" was in charge of this streetscape project.
Remember: "Everyone is not perfect."
Can someone please tell me as to how Mr. Shuris came up with a figure of 60+
inches of snow for this winter when we only had a couple of 6 inch storms along with a couple of 1 inch (which took 12 hours to plow on Jan. 21st) storms? All I can say is that the BS was really flowing last night at the Selectmen's meeting.
As to the probllem on Church Street, it's time to remove the bump-outs that never should have been installed. Towns have been removing these headaches and now Northbridge should do the same!
Bunky Hughes:,
It could have been he was also somewhat factoring in the Snow Drifts, in the area with the Drifts it could have been up to the 60" Inch factor.
I do not know if you attended any of the Street Scape Meeting's? But if I recall to attain the Federal and State Grants the Town needed to put in the Bump Outs, it could have also been part of the American With Disabilities Law requirement? If I also recall the Town would not have been able to afford the Street Scape improvements without the Federal/State Grants. If the Town took the Bump Outs out, would the Town have to pay back the Grant Money, and other possible issues with the American's With Disabilities Act?
Could the Bump Outs be modified? That could cost the Town some money to look into that, so who knows?
Voters, please remember this event when the DPW asks to hire more staff.
whderv:,
As long as all the Towns Power Brokers are on board with it, it should not be a problem for more staffing. Does our DPW have a proper yearly annual Budget?
The Weather Channel is watching another possible Snow Storm coming up the East Coast Saturday night into Sunday.
May need some more Super Duty six-eight wheeler's to push the drifts backs?
Lets keep our fingers crossed it goes out to sea!!!
What happened to the snowblower the town had for this particular job of snow removal of the downtown areas? Was it never replaced? It would save a ton of money in the long run to have one. Two sidewalk plows, the snowblower and a line of trucks cleaned the main Street in short order. Of course those of us that remember are probably few and far between.
Jim, that was my first thought too...was downtown today and the area in front of the bank building and library were not plowed for parking
Mr. Shuris finally had to deal with a real snowstorm! Seemed like it was quite the eye opening experience for him.