Towing operators describe snow‑removal role, lot limits as council reviews complaints

At a Feb. 25 Lawrence City Public Safety Committee meeting, towing managers told councilors how rotations with the Lawrence Police Department and the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) rules shape who tows vehicles during snow removal and how long vehicles are kept.

The discussion followed councilor complaints about customer service during tows and a request from the committee to invite local towing businesses to explain operations. Councilor Gregory Del Rosario asked company representatives to describe lot capacity, staffing and their role in overnight snow‑removal shifts.

Tricia, a manager at Sheehan's Towing, said tow rates are set by the Department of Public Utilities and not by individual businesses. “We have to go by DPU sets,” she said, and added that towing firms try to work with customers “within the confines of what we have to do.” She estimated her yard could accommodate “probably fit 250, 300” vehicles but added parking is “tight” and staff must shuffle vehicles during storms.

Sean Fountain, a manager for Cody's Towing, told the committee Cody's operates 24 hours, employs roughly “55‑60 employees,” and maintains multiple lots in Lawrence and Methuen. He estimated combined capacity across Cody's two Lawrence properties at about 400 vehicles. Fountain said snow‑removal rotations and safety concerns can constrain how quickly crews can tow and move vehicles: “If the streets are tough to navigate ... we're not moving as fast.”

Both companies said they work on a rotation with other local towers and with state police for light‑duty calls, and both described a coordinated process for snow emergencies. Lieutenant Torella of the Lawrence Police Department explained that during declared snow operations the police and the Department of Public Works (DPW) develop a list of streets to be cleared; traffic control officers accompany tow crews and a police officer must be present to authorize a tow. “The police officer is the only one that can authorize the tow of those vehicles, and he has to be present,” Torella said.

Councilors pressed the companies about tow counts during the recent storms. Estimates given during the meeting varied: Sheehan's manager said, “I think we did around 350 or 375 maybe,” while Cody's staff later said their count for the most recent event was “somewhere between 200 ... maybe 210.” The companies and police agreed that numbers can differ by storm night and by whether multiple storms are counted together.

Councilors also raised complaints that, at times, residents reported their cars were removed but DPW did not subsequently clear the same streets. Companies said that can happen “on occasion” when the DPW cannot reach every street or when conditions make certain streets difficult to navigate; they emphasized they only remove vehicles specifically authorized by DPW or police for plow operations.

The committee took no policy action on towing at the meeting; instead members voted to table the formal agenda item on the city towing list, criteria and procedures for later consideration. Councilor motions and roll calls are listed in the meeting votes at a glance below.

The discussion clarified who authorizes tows and how city, police and towing firms coordinate during snow operations but left outstanding questions for DPW staff—who were not present—about post‑plow follow‑up and street coverage. Committee members asked staff to use this session's comments to inform future conversations with DPW and to gather any outstanding documentation on rotation agreements, lot addresses and formal authorization procedures.