Mild Winter Good News For DPW

Amherst may be dealing with the snow this morning, but it has been a pretty easy winter for an area accustomed to heavier snowfall.

DPW director Bruce Berry is just happy that his department has been catching a break.

The cash-strapped department has been hit hard with increases and with funding drying up from the state. However, this mild winter has allowed it to gain some ground in its budget.

Berry said that he has only spent half of the budgeted amount for sand and salt, which is usually close to being spent this time of year. A good percentage of his department’s budget for gas and diesel is also spent in the wintertime, but the savings from this season will help with this year’s budget and the next. 

He has only had to spend $55,000 of the $90,000 allotted for winter and summer work, which is much better than in previous years. 

Berry said he is usually “sweating bullets” that he is maxed out on his overtime costs as winter comes to a close, but less snowstorms means less need for wheels on the road.

These savings in personnel costs are definitely good news for Berry as he prepares for the summer road construction projects in town. He now has more in his outside hire portion of the budget than usual.

“For about nine years the amount of snow we have had has [negatively] affected our summer program,” said Berry. “It is refreshing to have the reverse.”

He is pleased at the possibility of having this money so his crews can work extended hours and make the best use of their time on the roads this summer.

Berry said that although it has been an easy winter, he has still sent crews out many times to clear the roads for traffic. Even if the snow we have been getting is light and the weather warmer, the roads still need to be ready for the morning commuters.

“You have to go out [in the morning],” said Berry, “but it kind of breaks your heart because you know it is going to be 40 degrees in a few hours. Yet, that doesn’t help the morning traffic.”

He estimates that each storm costs the Amherst DPW about $4,500 total, with about $300 spent per hour during the average 15 hours of work.