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DPW director reports new parks, winter staffing shifts and equipment readiness
Summary
The DPW director told the council that Shapiro, Baldwin and Hales School Park have opened and listed spring projects; he said operations are prepared for winter with 34 pieces of equipment in-house, seven subcontractors, and increased subcontractor rates.
The Department of Public Works director appeared at the council’s request to brief members on parks and winter operations. The director said the city recently opened Shapiro, Baldwin and Hales School Park and listed spring construction projects that include Fuller Street, a splash pad at Little (Little Flow/Central Ave), and a top lot project at Madeline English related to a fence issue. “We recently just opened Shapiro, Baldwin, and Hales School Park,” the director said while outlining the spring construction list.
On staffing, the director said the operations manager’s duties are currently assumed by other staff until an update on the manager’s condition expected in January; the city is not hiring temporary management at this time. He said the city has about 34 in-house pieces of equipment and contracts with seven subcontractors for snow operations, and that subcontractor rates have risen to remain competitive with neighboring communities. Street sweeping runs from April to November; the director reported over 14,000 tickets have been issued this season.
Councilors thanked the director for responsiveness and pressed for procurement timelines on outstanding contracts (an iron fence and other projects). The director said several procurements are in process and some work will have to wait until spring due to winter digging restrictions. The council asked for follow-up where contracts are delayed and for clear timelines to be returned to the committee.
