Sanchez: DPW is Ready for More Snow This Weekend

Two weeks after a blizzard dumped nearly three feet of snow on the area forecasters are saying the Burlington area could get another 12 inches of snow this weekend.

Superintendent of Public Works John Sanchez said that the Burlington DPW is set and ready if the storm does hit.

"We're in good shape," he said. "We had to fix some equipment and get some parts. The machines took a beating but we have them up and running again."

Sanchez also said the DPW re-stocked on salt, sand and other storm supplies.

"We have the materials," he said. "We are ready for Saturday and Sunday."

Sanchez said that the roads are also in good shape to receive more snow, especially when compared to two years ago. He said the DPW has been pushing snow banks back from intersections and has cleared the roads and sidewalks. Also, the two weeks since the blizzard have seen relatively warm days and some of the snow has melted.

"Two years ago there was no time to clean up and the snow never melted," he said. "This time it's a little different so we appreciate that. We had high snow banks and it's hard to push over them but we've been lucky. A a lot of melting has happened over last week and a half."

Sanchez also joked that because of the timing of the snow, if it happens this will be the third weekend in a row members of the DPW have had to work. However, said he looks at the bright side of things.

"Having snow on weekends helps from the point of view that there is less traffic," he said "You have to look at the positive side. It's easier to plow when there are not a lot of people trying to get work."

Sanchez also said the snow removal budget is already in a deficit for the year. He said the sanding, plowing and post clean-up of the blizzard cost the town roughly $225,000 of the budgeted $350,000. He said the other snow storms have required two mores days of plowing and in total the DPW has sanded the roads eight times.

However, Massachusetts law allows towns to be in a deficit in the snow removal accounts. Sanchez said he will be at the Burlington Board of Selectmen meeting next Monday to request they vote to allow the town to operate in a deficit in the snow removal account.