Pittsfield Officials: Challenges Hampered Storm Cleanup
 The Friday, Jan. 13, storm struck North and Central Berkshires with a mix of rain and snow that changed by the hour and by location. |
Officials pointed to unique challenges inherent in that particular storm in response to a petition from Pittsfield resident Donald Bercury before the City Council committee on Public Works and Utilities. In it, Bercury requested an official from the Public Works department come before the City Council to explain "deplorable road conditions" in the days following the icy storm.
"That was a particularly difficult job to do," Bianchi told the committee. He cited the nature of that storm, its timing, and greater-than-usual traffic on the roads that day because of school department and sports events, as obstacles in being able to clear the roads before snow and ice became packed down.
"No two storms are the same, but we have the same very good, experienced people doing the job, storm in and storm out."
The mayor also spoke of contrast in budgetary approaches from the previous administration.
"We try to contain the amount of money we spend on snowstorms," Bianchi said, "I would say that in times past, there was a blank check available to anybody fighting the storms last year. That's not prudent. We can't afford it."
Peter Bruneau, superintendent of public services, explained in greater details the operational issues surrounding the cleanup of this more recent storm.
He explained that because the storm started with rain, it was not possible to pretreat the roads with salt or sand. It then turned to snow during a busy traffic time.
"It dropped 2 1/2 inches of snow within a 45 minute to an hour period, and it just got completely roadpacked." Bruneau said Saturday's drop in temperature further complicated removal. "By the time anyone got on it, it was hardpacked, an inch and a half thick."
It was so cold on Sunday, he said, that sand applied to the ice was simply blowing off the road. "There was no way of getting it to grip."
Finally, he said, he worked with Gregory Yon, acting director of the city's Building & Grounds Maintenance Department, to deploy calcium chloride to melt certain troubled areas, such as Williams Street. This was successful, he said, but a much more expensive process, and in his opinion not practical to pursue on a year-round basis.
"For the length of time where we have [the temperature] dipping that low, to me it just isn't worth it."
The superintendent commended the workers he oversees in battling the storms, most of whom worked 12-to-16 hour shifts throughout that weekend. He encouraged the public to call his department with any concerns or issues during a storm; the department has a dispatcher manning the line throughout each snow event. The number for the Highway Department is 413-499-9314
Tags: cleanup, snowstorm,
