High tax burden and dangerous conditions
We all know that the Metro West and coastal areas of Massachusetts have been hit hard with two massive snow storms in 2011, and that most cities and towns have already blown through their allocated budgets, and have since requested to take more taxpayer money, which prompts the question that has been asked frequently: why continually go over budget when you’ve been dealing with snow removal for centuries in Massachusetts?
Each year, our budget is faced with a puzzling question: why do DPW department heads continually ask for so little, when the numbers indicate they always need more? Especially since the past two snow removal jobs in Westwood, MA have been sub-par at best, even with crews supposedly working long hours day and night to resolve the many transportation issues we face with the Public Schools, and our residents venturing out to work each day.
The past snow removal that occurred on January 12, 2011, was particularly atrocious. Streets were left partially plowed for up to three hours, driveways faced mountain-esque blockages due to loader-plowing, and main roads (such as Route 109) were almost un-drivable for almost two days. The DPW, from hearing radio communication, were down a few trucks due to malfunctioning sanders, which is understandable. However, contractor CJP & Sons, responsible for most of Precinct 4, were fully operational, yet very unprofessional, slow, and unresponsive to the needs of those wanting to drive to work, or leave their homes.
After two appalling snow removals by Millis, MA based CJP & Sons, I question the town’s ability to award contracts to qualified bidders. These comments come in lieu of seeing the superior snow removal of the neighboring towns of Dedham, Norwood, Walpole, and Medway. Now, I am not sure who contract plows for the aforementioned towns, but they sure did a far better job. For all I know, CJP & Sons could just be over extended, but if they are, they should have the sense to tell the town of Westwood they will not be able to perform quality snow removal.
With over 32 years of knowledge from a family member who worked everything from small snowplows to Caterpillar front-end loaders in the snow, I know the difference between a quality job, and an unqualified or over extended crew.
Let’s right this situation by re-visiting our plowing contracts for 2012, and make sure they can get the job done. Especially since our taxes are rising at least 6% more in 2012 (without the new library project figured in), due to Westwood’s mistake of allowing developer CC&F to demolish buildings before funding was secured for the Westwood Station Project.
To combat this residential tax increase, I 1). Advise residents to file for a tax abatement at town hall, and 2). Encourage residents to share their ideas on how we may attract more commercial development to the Economic Development Advisory Board, on which I sit. From here, we can start developing a more inclusive discussion to allow everyone to share their solutions for a better Westwood, where each resident can have a say in what they think is best for the town’s health and overall growth.
In the future, I hope we all can enjoy a problem free commute in the snow, and a lower tax burden next time around. With better ideas and thought processes from our Board of Selectman and other elected officials, we can all benefit in the end.
Makes me wonder why I decided not to run for Selectman.
The full post can be found at: http://bit.ly/agnewsnowremoval
Submitted by GregAgnew on January 14, 2011 - 4:17am
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Also surprised by the snow removal
Like Greg, I was also surprised by the woeful efffort at snow removal. I left my house yesterday at 10am, and figuring 109 would be better than Thatcher to Fox Hill, went down High Street. To my amazement, it took almost 30 minutes to get from the Middle School out to 128! The Eastbound roadway was still covered in several inches of slushy snow more than 20 hours after the storm. The road was so narrow from the snow banks that there was not enough room for cars going straight to make it around cars taking left turns. Strangely, the Westbound side was completely clear (as was my driveway thanks to the Bean family.
Two exits north on 128, I get off on Great Plain Ave and turn right on Greendale. In contrast to 109, the road was clear edge to edge and dry. I continued on into Newton which was not as good as Needham, but far better than what I left behind in Westwood.
Why would our main artery through town be in such terrible condition so long after the storm had passed, knowing that so many from so far away depend on that route? Saying that it was the timing and severity of the storm doesn't cut it when we see how well other towns managed the same problem.
Westwood's snow removal was sub-par
I have to agree with the others who noted how inferior the snow removal job in Westwood was compared to our neighboring towns. I drove Rte 109 from WW through Dover, Walpole and Medfield on the evening of this most recent storm and it was shocking. As soon as I crossed the border from Westwood the roads improved dramatically. They were down to pavement in all three towns while Westwood was coated with several inches of snow and ice. This is unaccepatble.
Unfortunately, I observed the exact same thing following the storm on Christmas Eve. I'm pretty concerned that whatever our snow removal team is doing is not working and that our neighbors in other towns are getting much better service for their tax dollars.
Quirks in state law
Greg asks "a puzzling question: why do DPW department heads continually ask for so little, when the numbers indicate they always need more?" The answer is not a lack of competence on the part of the town administration, but rather in several quirks in state law.
First, you can never reduce the amount Town Meeting allocates for snow removal. If they appropriate $100 this year, they can not, by law, go any lower than that. They can vote $150 or even a steady $100 next year, but not $90.
Secondly, as the amount of snow that we will get in any given year can't be known ahead of time, this is the one area of a municipality's budget where they are allowed to deficit spend. Thus, it makes sense to lowball the snow budget, and then fund it as needed from reserves.