Snow Spending Tops $1.2 Million for the Year
Marlborough has spent over $1.2 million on snow removal this year.
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The city has spent $1.21 million on clearing snow and prepping roads this year.
“We were doing fairly well up until this blizzard hit," said Marlborough's General Foreman of Streets Kenneth Calder. "That blizzard was all on the weekend, which meant a lot of overtime."
The funds represent spending for the entire year, he said. Discarding last year's snow spending — where no major snow storms were seen in the area — the average for the last four years is $1.8 million for snow clearing.
“We should be right on track for the four previous year average," said Calder.
The upcoming weekend storm will cost the city more, due to it coming on a weekend, but the final cost depends on the duration of the storm. If the snow falls quickly then the DPW can clear it and prepare the roads in less time, said Calder.
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“If it’s a quick hitting storm it cert helps us in keeping the cost down,” he said.
The city allocates $500,000 a year to snow clearance and has been doing so for the last 20 or 30 years, said Calder. The mayor will address the City Council Monday about deficit spending for snow clearance, which is allowed under state law.
Neil Licht
12:08 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
1. The city has done a beyond excellent job in managing the snow in all of our snowfalls, blizzard included so lets start with all of us residents having seen how well that expense was managed-Exceedingly well.
2. We live in New England where it can snow 8 months of the year. Why are we always under budgeted when we all know its a predictable expense and a necessary expense.