First Selectman Weathering Winter Woes

Counting the predicted “snow showers” that turned into yet another “snow event” January 26, Newtown has dedicated Public Works Department winter response to handling the fallout from 11 storms.

First Selectman Pat Llodra puts the cost of combating between 60 and 68 inches of average snowfall between December 26 and January 21 at $353,458. And she noted in a release Wednesday that resident communication by phone or e-mail with storm-related concerns, questions, or comments have been at an all-time high due to the intensity and frequency of the storms.

The Office of the First Selectman and the Public Works Department, together, have handled approximately 250 separate resident contacts, although a number of repetitive calls bumped the number of total calls received to about 500, according to Public Works Director Fred Hurley. 

“The vast majority of these contacts have been simple inquiries about the plowing schedule,” Mrs Llodra said. “Many other calls have been in appreciation for the efforts of the crew under very difficult circumstances.”

 The remaining calls/e-mails of concern break down into the following categories:

1. Taking too long to get there;

2. Sight line problems;

3. Plowed area of road too narrow;

4. Road surface still rutted and icy;

5. Cannot access mailbox;

6. Snow accumulation at driveway access;

7. Too much sand; not enough sand;

8. Too much salt; not enough salt;

9. Sand “content” unsatisfactory.

“Most problems are responded to quickly, either the same day or early the next day,” the first selectman said. “A few areas have been especially problematic because of narrow roads and the excessive volume of snow. Snow is pushed back as far as possible and/or removed to be dumped elsewhere. This work goes on long after the actual snowfall is ended.”

Mrs Llodra reminded residents that the town is not responsible for clearing access to residents’ mailboxes. “We simply cannot take that on with more than 9,000 resident locations,” she said.

“When plowing, crews do try to avoid creating large mounds of snow near mailboxes, but in a few rare instances even find that unavoidable given a unique mailbox location and/or road issue,” she explained. “We received a few pleas from elderly and/or infirm persons to help with clearing access to mailboxes and we responded with appropriate help.”

On occasion, a resident mailbox is damaged or destroyed in plowing the road. In such cases, the homeowner should contact the Public Works Office to arrange for restitution, she said.

“Please be aware, also, that not all mailbox damage is the result of town work. Private contractors share in that responsibility.”

The first selectman also made the following points:

*Clearing the roadway does cause snow to accumulate at the access to private driveways. The result is that the resident then has to clean up the access to his/her driveway; and oftentimes that must be done more than once.

*Plows make a few runs on each roadway, especially during heavy or continuous snows. It is unavoidable that plows will cause snow to accumulate at the mouth of a driveway as the snow is being pushed from the road surface to each side. 

*Concerns about the salt/sand mix or depth are considered and often a worker will be sent out to check the area to determine if a particular issue has arisen.

*Clearing Newtown roads of snow takes eight hours, start to finish, for an average snow fall. That time requirement is stretched a little bit if the snow fall is excessive or if there are truck breakdowns, injuries, or accidents. Each of these conditions prevailed for a time during the last major storm.

*The town is divided into four sectors for road clearing. Crews do make an effort to alternate the pattern of clearing so that the same roads are not the last ones done in each sector. 

*Residents should be confident that emergency situations are responded to immediately. There is absolutely no delay in road and/or driveway clearing in any case of emergency. Crews are able to respond with great speed and efficiency.

“A challenge we are facing this year with more frequency and intensity than in past years is that some private plow drivers and homeowners are leaving piles of snow in the travelway when clearing private driveways,” Mrs Llodra said. “In many cases additional plowing by town crews has been required because of the actions of those private plow drivers/snow blowers. It is important, too, that homeowners and private plow drivers recognize that an unsafe condition for others is created when snow is left in the travelway.”

The first selectman said town offices received calls during these last storms of near accidents caused by snow left in and across the road by private drivers and homeowners. And she asks that everyone “be considerate and be careful that your actions do not cause difficulty or danger for others.”

“We know that in general our public works efforts are appreciated and we do thank the many folks who shared that thought with us,” Mrs Llodra concluded. “We are also aware that we can always do a better job in serving the community. We are open to suggestions for improvement and appreciate the patience of our community during these difficult weather conditions.”