Storms Damage Budget, Property

While the winter gave Mansfield a bit of a respite this weekend, with Saturday’s predicted snowstorm turning to rain and warmer temperatures predicted Sunday, Department of Public Works Director Lee Azinheira and Mansfield public servants still have a long struggle ahead of them.

At Wednesdays Selectman’s meeting, said he conferred with the finance committee and received approval to go into "deficit spending" - where the town basically borrows money from itself to keep plowing the snow.  "We will continue to do snow removal work," he said. "We may go to town meeting and look for the money. I had a discussion with the school superintendent, and we agreed we had to do it. If we don’t do snow removal we can’t get the kids to school.”

Selectman Jess Aptowitz, a past finance committee member, commented that the $272,254 deficit the town is already operating under could easily become $500,000 if the situation continues.

“I have had this pet peeve for years,” said Aptowitz of the lack of funds placed in the snow removal account each year. "Deficit spending is fooling ourselves," he said.

In an interview after the meeting, Azinheira and Finance Committee member Andres Gazzolo, easily agreed with Apotowitz’s statement.

“Yes, absolutely,” said Azinheira. “If we didn’t buy into the regional salt program we would be there already.”

The regional salt program allows towns to combine their resources and bid to gain a lower contract price. Under the regional program, Mansfield spends $47.21 per ton of salt this budget year, as opposed to $20 higher last year, Azinheira told Mansfield Patch.

The town has purchased 3700 tons of salt, with a purchase order sent in this past week for another 1400 tons. Azinheira noted in the meeting that many surrounding communities have paid much more for their stockpiles.

Ross said he expected no help from the state. "The state has no money," he said. "Communities are on their own." But he promised continued accurate record keeping, just in case an opportunity arose to apply for assistance.

Snow removal is costing the town in other ways as well.

Azinheira agreed with Doug Annino, who said he was aggravated by the pervasive practice of residents and private plow operators of pushing snow from a driveway across the street or into the road.  "We can fine them for that," Azinhiera said. "I stopped a snow-blower today. It is a problem. We do have letters we send out.”

Azinheira warned residents to be prepared for damage to their shrubbery and edges of yards as heavy machinery pushes the snow back.

He said though most damage will not be visible until spring, residents should call or email the if there are issues on their property or street. Mailbox damage is dealt with as soon as possible, he told Mansfield Patch.