Manchester-By-The-Sea Trying To Refrain From Nighttime Plowing
MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA (CBS) -- With all of the snow we've had this winter, it's no surprise that some towns are going over their budgets. So Manchester-by-the-Sea is hoping its new approach to snow removal will help with the budget.
Town Administrator Wayne Melville says the town will focus on plowing and snow removal during daylight hours. That way, he explains, they will have to hire fewer contractors and keep crews on overtime.
WBZ-TV's Ken MacLeod reports.
Melville told WBZ the town had budgeted $97,000 for snow removal for this season. During the Christmas blizzard Manchester-by-the-Sea spent $70,000; during the second storm it spent $125,000. That puts the town nearly $100,000 over budget.
Melville explains the town will still clean downtime on overtime and during the evenings, but he said the town is hoping it won't need to hire the additional private contractors it typically does.
He recognizes this approach will take longer, and people will see "a lot of snow banks at intersections." But he added the intersections will be passable.
Complains are part of the job, Melville told WBZ. Adding that when they worked "loud plows" through the night they would receive complaints.
