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Worcester DPW outlines snow-season preparations, cites staffing gaps and equipment upgrades
Summary
DPW and 311 briefed the Public Works Subcommittee on winter-readiness plans including rebuilt weather stations, updated brine and salt contracting, vehicle preparation and outreach to private plow contractors; staff said vacancies remain and the city is awaiting state action to speed hiring under civil-service reforms.
Department of Public Works officials told the Public Works Subcommittee that the city is preparing for the coming winter with a sequence of equipment, contracting and staffing actions, but they said vacancies and contractor recruitment remain risks.
DPW described a menu of preparations: restoring and adding roadway weather stations to provide localized road temperatures and conditions; rebuilding the municipal brine system to allow blending of magnesium chloride with salt as a pretreatment and in-storm application; calibrating municipal sanders with help from UMass Amherst to avoid over-salting; placing requests for multiple salt suppliers and securing three salt contracts to avoid supply shortages; evaluating and temporarily repairing the Clark Street salt shed; and performing vehicle preparation such…
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