SAUGUS — The town’s Finance Committee has begun reviewing budgets, with Wednesday’s meeting focusing on the DPW budget. One highlight was the deficit in the snow and ice section.
The topic was introduced with Chair Kenneth DePatto jokingly saying, “Here’s our favorite one, ice and snow.”
DePatto asked for the number this year, and Town Manager Scott Crabtree responded that there was about a $950,000 deficit this year. DePatto was not surprised, and said that this was always a moving target because it’s slow.
“I say this, and I’ve been saying it for three years: we haven’t really had many major snow events, just a couple. The cost of what we used to spend five years ago on a storm and ice and snow… When we actually have a legitimate winter that lasts, we’re going to be talking much more substantial costs within snow and ice costs,” Crabtree said.
Crabtree said this year there weren’t many storms, and most of them were just a few inches and that the town used to spend a million dollars, but that would cover a whole winter.
“Now, it’s only for a few events. If we get some major stuff, I think we’re going to be up. Just like other communities, we’ll be in the $3 million plus range,” he said.
DePatto mentioned that the town has seen worse than this.
“This year was a crazy winter. Even when you get 4 inches of snow, you have to get out there, you have to treat it (and) you have to plow it, and then treat it (again). I thought the staff did a great job, to be honest with you. It’s pretty challenging sometimes,” DePatto continued.
Crabtree said he always says the storms that are the most challenging and most difficult are when they are 2 to 4 inches. He said that these storms can’t be predicted and you don’t know if you’ve done enough even if you pre-treat.
“Those are the most frustrating. If you have a lot of snow, everybody gets it and says, ‘OK, I’m going to stay off the road.’ Then it gets cleaned up, and if it’s 3 or 4 (inches) everybody says, ‘Well, I’m going to go to the gym and I’m going to the supermarket,’ and they want to be able to drive in the middle of the storm,” Crabtree said.
He did say that he felt this year seemed to go better in comparison to the past couple of years.
“This year it went from snow to rain to ice coming down and then it turned solid like you said. It was horrible,” DePatto said. “I’m not surprised at that number”
Crabtree also gave updates on the trucks that the town had ordered. They had ordered four 5-ton trucks and so far the town had received two of them.
“We did OK this year. We tried doing some leasing and whatnot, but it’s not up there to be able to do it that way. To replace these we looked at things like stainless steel beds…and plows that rotate both ways, which the other trucks didn’t have,” Crabtree said. “Things that will last longer…we’re very appreciative. I know the DPW are very appreciative of the support from the Selectmen, Finance Committee, and Town Meeting.”
He continued that this equipment is very important from a safety standpoint and that the vehicles being replaced are very old. DPW Director Brendan O’Regan chimed in that they changed over from the 1900s to the 2000s
“You know, you can’t ask the men and women to do their job if you don’t give them the right training, equipment, and things to work with, and plus it’s a safety issue too,” DePatto said.
O’Regan expressed his thanks on behalf of the DPW workers to all of the Finance Committee.
