Worcester finance committee reviews DPW budget, hears staffing and snow-removal concerns

Worcester City Council’s finance committee reviewed the Department of Public Works budget and staffing plan, hearing that the city has 84 DPW vacancies and that the snow-removal budget is level-funded at $5.5 million even after an April storm depleted contractor availability.

The DPW presentation, given to the finance committee, showed a recommended tax-levy appropriation of $16,500,000 for DPW administrative divisions. Streets and Sanitation is the largest single administrative division at $12,200,000. Other figures shown included Administration and Finance at $572,000, Engineering at $1,800,000, Fleet Management at about $2,000,000, streetlights at $1,600,000 and a $17,000,000 approximate DPW capital borrowing plan. Water and sewer enterprise capital borrowing was presented as about $21,000,000.

Why it matters: DPW delivers core services — streets, sanitation, snow clearing and utilities — and committee members pressed staff about how vacancies and contractor availability could affect service levels and year-end finances.

DPW staffing and hiring

Commissioner John Westerling told the committee, “There are currently 84 total vacancies.” He said a set of hires is moving through the pipeline: six laborers confirmed to start May 27, another 14 to 20 in the hiring process and eight mechanic offers pending. If all those hires begin, Westerling said the vacancy total would drop to about 50.

City staff told the committee that some savings from vacancies already show up as free cash when the fiscal year closes, but those savings are likely to be reallocated during year-end closeout. Staff reported estimated savings so far this fiscal year: about $120,000 on sewer, $240,000 on water and $314,000 on DPW administration. Staff said the city will not know the final free-cash figure until the fiscal books close and the state certification process finishes by Sept. 30.

Snow removal, contractors and contingency

The committee pressed staff about snow removal after the city’s April storm. The snow-removal appropriation is level-funded at $5.5 million. Councilor Bergman asked for assurances of a “more robust and effective snow removal program this winter.” DPW officials said they plan to add vehicles and salting equipment and to start contractor procurement earlier in the summer to secure private help.

Officials described two factors that caused the April response problems: forecasts underestimated the storm’s intensity, and private contractors had already redeployed equipment to other projects and were unavailable. The committee discussed an existing “perfect attendance” bonus for private contractors that are available through April 1; one councilor suggested extending that deadline to April 15 to better cover late-season storms.

Water and sewer enterprise accounts

Staff presented enterprise-account balances and recommended reserves. The sewer enterprise reserve figure appeared large in committee materials because, staff said, the Department of Revenue requested combining the sewer reserve with the sewer connection fee account; the combined balance includes funds earmarked for capital work to serve new sewage flows. Staff said sewer operating growth is projected at about 3 percent and water at about 5 percent, driven mainly by cost-of-living adjustments and step increases for employees and by an Upper Blackstone assessment increase.

Private streets and small-assistance fund

Councilors asked about the $6-per-linear-foot program for private-street assistance. Staff said the city has embedded about $800,000 for private-street conversions in the bridal conversions line and that a small assistance line tied to petitions currently contains roughly $10,000. Several councilors said $10,000 will not cover petitions such as Ryberg Terrace and requested staff calculate what the $6-per-linear-foot commitment would require before the budget is finalized.

Process and next steps

Staff emphasized the distinction between approving financial components in the budget and later adopting ordinance changes: ordinance language to make Parks an independent department would come back to council after budget approval. The committee voted to move DPW finance line items out of committee so the administration can proceed with budget development; council members reiterated they may reexamine specifics in subcommittee or at final council vote.

Ending

Committee members requested follow-ups: a detailed calculation of private-street petition costs, updated year-end free-cash estimates after June 30 closeout, and an earlier contractor procurement timeline for snow response. The finance committee approved moving DPW budget items out of committee; final budget adoption will be taken at a later council vote.