City approves additional $2.5 million for over-budget snow removal costs

The City Council Finance Committee at its Tuesday meeting approved $2.5 million in storm response costs in addition to the $1.4 million Waltham already budgeted and spent.

Director of Consolidated Public Works Michael Chiasson said the city often exceeds its initial budget for snow removal because of the difficulty of predicting winter storms. Councilor-at-Large Tim King supported that statement, noting snow removal costs can vary significantly from year to year.

January’s heavy storms took a big bite out of snow removal budgets across New England. Ward 1 Councilor Anthony LaFauci said the additional $2.5 million makes this year’s snow budget the highest on record. With the addition, Waltham has so far spent $3.9 million to handle an accumulated 41.7 inches of snow. Last year the city spent $2.4 million on 28.6 inches of snow, and $1.5 million on 17.9 inches the year before. 

Chiasson said the $2.5 million paid for all snow removal costs his department had incurred up to the end of January and included an additional 10% of existing spending for projected future costs for the season. 

That 10% margin was lower than Chiasson’s initial estimate for how much funding the department would need for the rest of the season, and he told councilors he’s not sure how much of it the city has already used since the start of February. “We may be back. That’s not out of the question,” he said.

The funding request included an increase of $650,000 in overtime pay for city employees, bringing the city’s total line item for snow-related overtime pay to $775,000. This is more than double the average year’s snow-related overtime requirements, which the department estimated during budgeting was approximately $300,000. It also included costs for contractors the city hired to plow and salt streets, truck and equipment rentals, vehicle repairs, salt and sand.

Committee members asked Chiasson how the department decides when to salt streets, when to plow and when to hire contractors to help with the snow mitigation. Chiasson said those decisions are usually made by multiple city officials.

Chiasson added that the city always prioritizes calling in its own employees before hiring outside contractors but that the city’s plows alone can’t cover all of Waltham. The majority of salting is done by outside contractors, he said.

Councilors also discussed residents’ frustrations about unplowed sidewalks. Chiasson explained that DPW employees first clear sidewalks directly in front of schools and then progress through the city by clearing off sidewalks the department has identified as common school-walking routes. 

Chiasson emphasized that private businesses are also responsible for shoveling walkways in front of their storefronts, adding that his department isn’t able to plow all of Waltham’s 151 miles of public sidewalk. “We’re still doing sidewalks now,” he said.

Chiasson said there were multiple unique factors that made the city’s snow response more difficult this year. The consistent cold temperatures meant that salting streets was less effective than usual. He added that his department has had several retirements in the past few years and many employees are relatively new. 

Multiple councilors emphasized their support for the Consolidated Public Works Department and said the snow response needs to be a community effort.

“I grew up in a time where if you had a sidewalk in front of your house — I didn’t care if it was a one-, a two-, or a 10-family house — [if] it was there, you did it,” said LaFauci. “If everyone just grabbed a shovel and did their part where they physically can, I think this city would be better off all around.”