Medford officials outline plan to use $500,000 override for road crew hires, equipment and targeted resurfacing

Medford’s Department of Public Works told the city’s Public Works and Facilities Committee on Jan. 21 that $500,000 from a recently approved ballot override will be used to add personnel and equipment to the highway division and to free up contracted dollars for larger capital projects.

The update was delivered by DPW Commissioner Tim McGivern and Engineer Owen Wartella. "We're increasing the size of the highway division by approximately 20%," McGivern said, describing a plan to add three positions — a mason working foreman and two maintenance/laborers — plus one internal transfer from the cemetery. "The expected increase in efficiency is about 20%."

The $500,000 allocation, McGivern said, covers new staff, parts and supplies for equipment, gasoline, repair supplies, concrete and asphalt, and an allowance for future capital purchases such as additional trucks. "When you add more people, you are going to need more trucks as time goes on," he said.

Why it matters: City officials told the committee that hiring in-house crews for spot repairs and…