Conference 7.286::maynard

    I agree with .1 although sometimes I think they are getting a little
    carried away with the use of the sidewalk plows.
    
    In general, the work this year has been outstanding particularly since
    the number of contracted plow trucks has been cut back dramatically
    from past years.  The DPW has been working for many years to replace
    it's tired and obsolete equipment with new equipment which has resulted
    in the town being able to put more of it's own equipment and men to 
    work rather than pay a higher per-hour contract price.
    
    I think the praise goes to Walter Sokolowski, who is facing his first 
    *real* winter since being appointed Superintendent.  Soko has been 
    with the DPW for many years and, from my experience in working for a 
    neighboring town DPW in a prior life, TIMING is everything when working
    a snow storm.  Knowing when to send out the sanders and when to convert
    to plowing is an acquired skill and Soko has his act together.  He is 
    managing a smaller work force than in previous years and is doing an
    excellent job.  
    
    As far as I can tell, the downtown reconstruction has helped save $$$
    too. Has the town ever picked up the downtown section this year?  It 
    seems that the downtown is easily passable in spite of the drifts.   
    Remember the days before reconstruction when the roads had to blocked off 
    and one-way routing insitituted until all the snow was removed?
    
    
    Frank

    Hi  Frank I agree they are doing a good job but will pay for it
    next year. They have already exceeded the $60K for snow removal.
    The differenece will go on next years tax rate and that means less
    money for the town to use on much needed items. My feeling is that
    all home owner and business should shovle there own sidewalks and
    not have the town do it (a saving to the town) don't remove the
    snow unless it blocks and interection view. In another words MOTHER
    NATURE PUT IT THERE LET MOTHER NATURE TAKE IT AWAY.
    
    
    YOUR FREIEND ON THE FINCOM

    Art, you are correct.  We should all do our part to ensure that our
    sidewalks are clear.  It really bugs me to see some people fill the
    sidewalks AND STREETS with their snow after the plows have gone by.
    Doing our part WILL cut the expenses.
    
    Another nice touch would be for everyone to find the nearest hydrant
    and keep it clear.  Imagine the frustration of watching your house 
    burn down while the fire department tries to dig out your hydrant.
    
    As you know, cities and towns always budget a very low sum for snow 
    and ice removal, since any amount in excess of budget must always be 
    added to the next year's budget automatically.  This is one of the
    curious oddities of municipal law.  What this means is that towns 
    are really paying for most snow and ice removal costs after the fact, 
    while using available funds each year for other purposes.  It's a 
    chicken and the egg type of thing.  One thing for sure- we pay 
    eventually, whether it's in advance or after the fact.  By low-balling
    the budget number each year, we make a bet with Mother Nature that we 
    won't need the money.  We usually lose the bet! 
    
    
    Frank

    I agree that we chance eanch year that the winters are not going
    to be so bad. Still $60K+ dollars it seems that we spend and not
    try to reduce. If We gave the DPW $150K they would fine away to
    send it all.
    
    art

    I don't even live in Maynard but wanted to say something about the
    sidewalk/snow issue.
    
    I came to MA in 1960 and was always shocked that people didn't have to
    shovel their own walkways.  In Ohio, it was the law.  If someone
    injured themselves on "your" sidewalk you were liable.   You just knew
    you shoveled the sidewalk along with the drive way.
    
    In Boston, I've noticed it particularly on Newbury St, the merchants
    will shovel just a narrow walk.  You can hardly pass.  Some don't
    shovel at all.  I don't understand  it.
    
    

    and besides that, the sidewalk plow tends to re-landscape people's
    front yards when the driver isn't sure where the pavement ends. let's
    buy citizens good snowshovels and sell the plow. it'll save money.

    					-- hs 

    Shall we start a pool this afternoon to guess the time the first
    sidewalk plow hits the pavement?
    
    					Steve

re .7:
    
>    Shall we start a pool this afternoon to guess the time the first
>    sidewalk plow hits the pavement?

Actually, this is one of the things which DPW Super. Walter Sokolowski has
really changed for the better in Maynard.  It used to be that the time the
plows started was 11 PM.  I. e., they waited until they got overtime pay
before plowing.  And they plowed even if the stuff was likely to melt the
next day.  And they hired mostly outside contractors to plow.

Remember a couple of years ago when it didn't snow, and they used up all
the snow plowing money early anyway?  The State says that when a town
overspends their snow plowing budget, we have to pay whatever it costs
regardless, so the snow plowing was less constrained financially than
anything else in town.  That was right before Soko got the job.  The only
time since then that the usual abuse happened was when he went on vacation,
not long after he got the job.

Now, it's more likely to be DPW guys manning the plows than outside
contractors, and they're more likely to do it during normal working hours.
They don't usually bring in the front-end loaders to clean up down town.

And they sometimes wait for the snow to just melt.

-Steve

    1. The money for snow and ice removal has been the same for the last 10
    years sinec the big snow storm.
    
    2. The DPW can deficiet spend for snow and ice depending on the how bad
    a year it is. (I think this year the DPW spent approx 100K.
    
    Fund for snow and ice does not decrease in fact its been increaseing.
    talk to the DPW supt. if you have a problem.
    
    
    art

    	Personally, I didn't think last winter's clean up's were too
    swift... Hope this coming year is handled better. 
    
        Maybe moving the parking meters to the building-side of the
    sidewalks (like in Montreal PQ.) would make it easier for the sidewalk
    plows to work, or are the shop-owners responsible for clearing in front
    of their stores? Climbing over snowbanks to get to the sidewalk is
    a bummer!
    
    Will

    I think the by-law states all home and business owner are responsible
    for cleaning in front of there home's and business.
    art