While the mild weather has been rough on ski resorts and others who depend on a classic Vermont winter to make their living, many municipalities are seeing savings on road maintenance.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20120212/NEWS01/702129884
Sunday, February 12, 2012
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Sign by Danasoft - For Backgrounds and Layouts
Watch out for the use it or loose it plan. Departments that will pad material and man hours to justify next year's budget. I've seen tremendous, unnecessary use of salt and sanding of bare roads in my neighborhood. The paved, municipal lot was turned into a dirt track last, freezing rain fall. Understand every neighborhood has the complaining nag that phones the hwy dept each storm. Time to demand drivers be more responsible in winter conditions, and mindful of the cost and negative impact of excessive salt use.
ReplyDeleteOh my. Putting salt and sand out during freezing rain. When do you want them to put it out. In sunlight?
DeleteGod I sure hope your not the next selectman. Just remember that lot is used for town employees and town citizens. I guess I would rather have a sanded lot during freezing rain, then a individual.or citizen being injured and either losing work (=dollars) or suing the town (=more dollars)
ReplyDeletePeople need to take responsibility for their own actions. We as a society are to sue happy.
ReplyDeleteLets use less salt .
sue happy ? who is suing who?
Deletesounds like you watch T.V. too much.
Ever go hire a lawyer ? can you afford one ?
Save The freaking money for pot holes. And or Next year....
Oh my god.. don't put it into a savings account...... NOOOOO SPEND IT and vote for the SAME LYING IDIOTS who believe in use it or loose it budgeting.
Who is suing who? Best get you head out of the sand.
DeleteFirst and foremost. Where is your proof?
ReplyDeleteI live in Springfield. It snowed 2", they plowed the road FOUR times. It snowed maybe 1/2", maybe, they plowed the road TWO times. This is not efficient use of tax payer money.
ReplyDeleteI think there is something to be said for the 'use it or we will not be able to justify next years budget request' mentality. Remember, the head of the public works department actually requested a $4,000,000 bond be floated to pave every road in town last year. This was pure lunacy, especially given the recession, but apparently made sense to him.
Please get out and vote, the budget DOWN, that is!!
What services do you want to see cut? If the budget goes down at this point. That's what is left to cut. The operating budget is almost $500,000.00 less than last year.
ReplyDeleteThe overall town budget is up however. Many other towns in the area have either level funded their budgets or decreased them. And I am sure the school budget will be way up as usual.
DeleteYou just have to lay some people off. That's life.
Where do.you want the layoffs. Depending on where they are made will.cause a service reduction
Deletere: "What services do you want to see cut?"
DeleteAs mentioned by multiple contributors, plowing and salt use is excessive. As a rough guess, I'd say a 50% reduction would hardly go noticed.
Focus on the hospital neighborhood, steepest hills, and school zones. For other areas, plow at 6" accumulation. Observe forecasts for warming weather. If serious thawing in same day, park it.
Many Western states that get far more snow fall then Spfld, function just fine without using salt or chloride. May be worth a trial to forgo salt on rural roads and assess impact. These are the same rural neighborhoods with watersheds that feed well water. There is a benefit to be had beyond cost.
The town budget is down. Revenue is down. That's why the increased taxes. So the town should give up.services to make room.for the runaway school?
ReplyDeleteThe town budget is UP from last year. The town should reduce services. What is wrong with that?? And the school should lay some people off. Enrollment is down, expenses should also be down.
DeleteThe town budget is down. The amount to be raised by taxes is up due to a decrease in revenue.
DeleteBetter check your savings by reducing services. Substantial increase in homeowners insurance if full time fire dept begins volunteer or how long.are you willing for police and ambulance to respond to an emergency.
DeleteI'm.going.to.guess you are also one against the biomass project that would bring in between 1.2-1.6 million in additional.revenues to the town. Thus reducing the taxes you complain about.
DeleteI agree with using less salt however, Have you ever seen some people drive when it snows? On snowy days it is entertaining to watch some of you try to drive on my road. I have pulled more people out of the ditch because the black ice, snow drifts and slush piles reach out and grab your car. If people would SLOW DOWN and plan ahead the roads could use less plowing thus saving the money for repaving and other road maintenance!
ReplyDeleteAs a matter of fact if you had attended tonights select board meeting you could have heard the public works highway director make some recommendations on how they could reduce cost by limiting the plowing, salt & sanding to the main & hill roads. But here is the $64K question..... are the taxpayers who live in residential areas than those listed above willing to give up the level of service they have enjoyed??????
ReplyDelete