Saugus residents upset over town’s lack of plowing

SAUGUS – Residents who thought the town did a poor job plowing Tuesday were correct.Town Manager Andrew Bisignani admitted Wednesday that no contractors were brought in to plow, which meant very little was done.While the town’s trucks hit the roads salting and sanding, Bisignani said only the hills and main thoroughfares were plowed.”We decided to let Mother Nature take its course,” he said.Bisignani said the the reason for the lack of plowing this year is simple: too much snow and too little money.The town budgeted $150,000 for snow and ice removal, which is typical. Municipalities are allowed, by law, to deficit spend for snow and ice removal so most budgets are low knowing it will be made up in the next year’s budget.However, when he put together the fiscal 2010 budget Bisignani said he put only $700,000 in the snow and ice removal line.”I’m hoping not to go over $700,000 in deficit spending,” he said. “We’re already at $610,000. If we go over I’ll have to go back into the budget and cut something else.”In total, the town has spent $725,000 on snow and ice removal and salt and sand to clean up 50 inches of snow, according to Public Works Superintendent Joe Attubato.Plowing versus the budget is an issue that’s been weighing heavy on Attubato.He said he is concerned that if he spends any more on salt it will come at the cost of a police officer’s or firefighter’s job.”I’m afraid we’re spending so much on snow and ice it will cause people to get laid off,” he said.On the other hand, while he’s trying to cut back he said he’s also concerned about protecting the town.Town Meeting member Raymond Lawrence voiced a similar concern.”I know Andy doesn’t have the money to spend but when it comes to the safety of the town when do we say we can’t afford it?” he asked.Lawrence said he’s received a number of phone calls regarding the lack of plowing and Bisignani admitted he’s received quite a few himself.”And some have been very vocal,” he added. “I know people are not happy but . . . hopefully the snow will melt this weekend and a lot will be gone and it won’t be an issue.”It was an issue for some residents Tuesday, however. The police log shows several calls from residents on Overlea Avenue, Seaview Avenue and Short Street complaining that the plows had not been by at all. Another claimed they couldn’t get their car up Pine Tree Drive because of the snow and there was what Lawrence believes was a weather related accident on Wonderland Avenue at Fairmont Avenue.”We’ve always taken care of our streets,” Lawrence said.He said he’s glad that the decision not to plow worked out in that Mother Nature did clear the snow but, he added, “there is always the chance that it won’t and that scares me.”Bisignani, however, is standing firm.He said to send out contractors for any given storm costs the town between $50,000 and $75,000 so he will continue to avoid doing that.”There’s still a good six weeks (of winter) to go,” Bisignani said. “At least that’s what Punxsutawney Phil said and that’s what I’m going by. February is a big snow month, we’ve gotten hit good in March and even April. We’ll limit the use of outside services unless there is a public safety issue because I’m not about to give up a police officer or a teacher.”