Town's Snow-Removal Expenses Exceed Budget by Nearly $100,000

The town has expended its snow-removal budget and costs have exceeded budgeted funds by approximately $100,000, Town Manager Peter Souza said during Monday's Town Council.

"With record snowfall amounts in January, it's certainly been a challenge not only for our employees, but also for our equipment," Souza said.

According to Souza, the town budgeted a total of $418,000 in 2011 for personnel and non-personnel services, such as sand and salt. The amount budgeted out of the general fund is $288,000, while the remaining $134,000 is provided through a state grant that Windsor receives each year.

In terms of total snow-removal expenditures, the town is currently at about $500,000, which includes estimates for the clearing of roofs at the Main Library, Town Hall and other public facilities.

"We've had crews working over a number of weekends in January to improve visibility at intersections, widen travel lanes, as well as to create storage areas at various town facilities in anticipation of further storms," Souza said.

Since the last week in January the town has been monitoring the accumulation of snow on roofs and drains of town facilities.

"We've had a structural engineer inspect all of our town's facilities to determine snow loads," Souza said. "Since the 31st of January, we've removed snow from the Main Library, the Public Safety Complex, Dog Pound, Town Hall, portions of 330 Windsor Avenue Community Center and the Wilson Branch Library."

Work will continue this week to remove snow from the roofs of the Poquonock Fire House and the Main Library.

The board of education has also assessed snow accumulation on the roofs of schools throughout the town and have taken the necessary steps to remove snow where needed.

Going forward, Souza said he will wait until the end of the fiscal year to request the supplemental appropriation from the general fund for snow-removal expenditures above the budgeted $418,000.

Unexpended dollars from other departments funded through the general fund would be transferred to the Public Works Department.

Residents need not worry about future snowfall and the town's ability to afford removal. According to Souza, the Public Works Department will "continue to work as needed during a regular business day or, if need be, on the weekends or overnight to improve sight lines at intersections and widen travel lanes in town.

"We are really trying to meet the needs of residents and business owners. I need to thank residents and property owners for their cooperation over the past few weeks, and we look forward to an early spring," he added.