Pay increase proposed for Worcester snowplow contractors
By
Nick Kotsopoulos
Telegram & Gazette Staff
Posted Oct 16, 2017 at 8:22 PM
Updated Oct 17, 2017 at 6:08 AM
WORCESTER - With winter looming, the city is looking to increase the
rates it pays some drivers of privately-owned snowplows and sanders.
Paul J. Moosey, commissioner of public works and parks, said the proposed hourly pay increase, which is $5 or $6 depending on the type of equipment, is needed to maintain an adequate fleet of plows and sanders so the city can have the ability to return streets to a safe, drivable condition as quickly as possible after a winter storm.
The proposed increases would apply to three of the city’s 23 equipment categories, while two new equipment classifications have been added to this year’s winter program, he said. Current rates spanning all the categories range from $60 an hour to $130 an hour.
Given the challenges of snowplowing in a hilly urban environment, Mr. Moosey said, it is important for the city to keep its rates competitive with the state and nearby communities.
Hired equipment makes up about 90 percent of the city’s snow-fighting fleet, according to the commissioner.
“Needless to say, it is absolutely vital to running a successful winter program to maintain an adequate fleet of hired plows and sanders,” Mr. Moosey wrote in a report that goes before the City Council Tuesday night. “Maintaining an experienced and reliable fleet of hired equipment that can be quickly pressed into service when need arises is both cost-effective and operationally efficient.
“We did lose a number of pieces of equipment this past winter to more lucrative job sites, but have so far been able to replace virtually all of those pieces with new hired contractors,” he added. “However, we cannot risk a continuing migration of our critical hired winter equipment, so we therefore are recommending changes in some of the rates.”
The hourly rates for most of the equipment types were increased last year as part of several changes the city made to its snow removal and winter operations, after a top-to-bottom review of those operations in the wake of several complaints about poor street conditions after some storms in 2015.
The city budget for this year’s winter operations has been increased to $6 million, compared to $4.2 million the previous year. City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. recommended the $1.8 million increase, which was agreed to by the City Council, in this fiscal 2018 municipal budget to better reflect the actual cost of the city’s winter operations.
The city has some 515 miles of streets that need to be plowed and treated when it snows.
Paul J. Moosey, commissioner of public works and parks, said the proposed hourly pay increase, which is $5 or $6 depending on the type of equipment, is needed to maintain an adequate fleet of plows and sanders so the city can have the ability to return streets to a safe, drivable condition as quickly as possible after a winter storm.
The proposed increases would apply to three of the city’s 23 equipment categories, while two new equipment classifications have been added to this year’s winter program, he said. Current rates spanning all the categories range from $60 an hour to $130 an hour.
Given the challenges of snowplowing in a hilly urban environment, Mr. Moosey said, it is important for the city to keep its rates competitive with the state and nearby communities.
Hired equipment makes up about 90 percent of the city’s snow-fighting fleet, according to the commissioner.
“Needless to say, it is absolutely vital to running a successful winter program to maintain an adequate fleet of hired plows and sanders,” Mr. Moosey wrote in a report that goes before the City Council Tuesday night. “Maintaining an experienced and reliable fleet of hired equipment that can be quickly pressed into service when need arises is both cost-effective and operationally efficient.
“We did lose a number of pieces of equipment this past winter to more lucrative job sites, but have so far been able to replace virtually all of those pieces with new hired contractors,” he added. “However, we cannot risk a continuing migration of our critical hired winter equipment, so we therefore are recommending changes in some of the rates.”
The hourly rates for most of the equipment types were increased last year as part of several changes the city made to its snow removal and winter operations, after a top-to-bottom review of those operations in the wake of several complaints about poor street conditions after some storms in 2015.
The city budget for this year’s winter operations has been increased to $6 million, compared to $4.2 million the previous year. City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. recommended the $1.8 million increase, which was agreed to by the City Council, in this fiscal 2018 municipal budget to better reflect the actual cost of the city’s winter operations.
The city has some 515 miles of streets that need to be plowed and treated when it snows.
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