Pittsfield's DPW Czar Talks Snow Plowing
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Staffing shortages continue to stretch Pittsfield’s public works employees thin during winter storm events.
On Monday, Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales updated the Public Works Committee on snow operations. Last winter, snow maintenance and winter overtime were overspent by nearly $1.2 million, and Pittsfield saw a total of 4.77 feet of snow.
"We place safety over everything else when we do the work we do, and one of those main things is to ensure that we have safe access for emergency vehicles. Then we consider equity, efficiency, and cost control," Morales explained.
"… We have to do the work we're doing and if the budget is at the end of the day, at the end of the year in the negative, then we have to make sure that we can replenish that by some other means and that's why, very often, almost every year, I have not seen a year where we have not done this, we come back to the City Council to ask for funds to replenish some of the funds spent on snow and ice."
The region saw more than a foot of snow earlier this year, and it continued to fall on Tuesday. Snow accumulation is significant because of freezing temperatures.
This winter season to date, 4.5 feet of snow has fallen on Pittsfield, and contractors worked more than 4,000 hours.
Morales cited contractor availability, contractor rates and insurance, staffing shortages, and increasing weather unpredictability as the main challenges for snow removal operations in fiscal year 2025. Staffing shortages continue in 2026, as the Highway Division has seven vacancies, causing "a major issue" when it comes to maintaining around-the-clock staffing during storms.
Contractors have been brought in to supplement with larger vehicles, and Deputy Commissioner Jason Murphy and other employees have been plowing while they should be focused on quality control. Morales pointed out that the city has worked with contractors to provide better pay and insurance standards for this winter season.
Last winter's snow maintenance budget was set at $700,000 and overspent to $1.6 million, and the winter overtime budget was set at $200,000 and overspent to $437,000. This represents a total variance of $1.18 million, and was covered by reducing work from the DPW budget, replenishing funds from departmental turnbacks, and asking the City Council for additional funds.
With the nearly 5 feet of snow FY25 saw, there were 35 operational events, 13 ice events, more than 2,600 contractor hours, and more than 2,400 overtime hours paid out.
The DPW is responsible for ensuring that roads, sidewalks, and critical public spaces are safe and accessible during winter storms. Operations cover a total of 450 lane miles: 208 miles of accepted and unaccepted streets, 6 miles of priority sidewalks, 20 city-owned buildings (including 14 school campuses), five public parking lots, two municipal parking garages, two lake access points with associated lots, and parks and conservation lands.
Ten miles of state-owned roads are maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
Pittsfield’s snow and ice control plan was updated in July 2025. It includes proactive and reactive responses to winter storms, responsibilities for residents and property owners, and the parking ban procedures.
The DPW performs anti-ice pre-treatments, salting and sanding, plowing, sidewalks and facilities, and post-storm de-icing. The city is divided into four quadrants, and each takes about three hours to plow under normal conditions.
Tags: plowing, snow removal,
