Selectmen Approve $750,000 in Deficit Spending for Snow Removal

Burlington Department of Public Works Superintendent John Sanchez come before the Monday night for an increase to the town’s snow removal budget.

Sanchez explained that the high amounts of snow that has hit the town this year, roughly 72 inches, including over four-and-a-half feet in January alone, requires the town to increase the snow and ice deficit account. Under Massachusetts state law, snow removal accounts are allowed to run in a deficit, with approval by the Selectmen and Ways and Means Committee.

Sanchez asked the board to approve an additional $750,000 in the deficit account to help the town manage snow removal throughout the rest of the year. This amount is on top of the $350,000 originally approved for snow removal in the budget, bringing the total of the account to $1.1 million.

“As how as this sounds, we’ve used similar amounts, even within the last five years,” Sanchez said, adding that his hope is the winter relents and the town won’t have to use the deficit funds.

A couple factors that have made cleanup expensive this year, Sanchez said, is that the snow has come in big events without much time in between. The town has been required to hire private conractors to help with snow removal during the bigger storms and the short duration between events has meant there has not been time for snow to melt and has just accumulated.

Town Administrator Robert Mercier said one bright side is the town had prepared for $500,000 in deficit spending for snow removal when preparing the budget last year, and so the increase will not hit as hard as it might have.

“We projected for half a million for snow and ice, so that is built in,” he said. “This request is a little larger so we’ll react to that too. We will have to find way to make it up in next year.”

Selectman Robert Ditucci said he felt the DPW and Highway Department teams had been doing a good job keeping up with the snow this year. He said he has received many compliments for the DPW from residents and asked those that have been less pleased to remain patient, especially during bit storms.

“Think how much effort it takes for you to do driveway, even with snow blower, and multiple that by thousands,” he said. “We have 100 miles of roadways and many miles of sidewalks in town. I want to thank the guys for doing a good job out there.”