Highway staff responds to John Stewart complaint about windrows and plowing

A resident complaint about windrows left across an intersection prompted a detailed response from town highway staff at the Highway Safety Committee’s April 21 meeting.

The town highway staff participant (speaker S1) described the standard process for storm response: an initial pass to plow and treat pavement, followed by subsequent rounds to return for dirt roads and shoulder work. S1 said the driver corrected the intersection raised in John Stewart’s letter and that the crew attempted to balance commuter-route priorities, vehicle breakdowns and staffing shortages during heavy storms.

S1 told the committee the sequence is deliberate: ‘‘Our 1st round is we plow and treat the pavement. We try, you know, an inch, 2 inches, we scrape it, put treatment down so the snow doesn't stick. And then you go back and you reload with your material.’’ The staff explanation acknowledged that dirt-road segments often receive later attention and that, during a long storm, crews may be unable to return immediately because trucks must finish a linked set of commuter routes.

Committee members pressed for clarity about the specific route and whether the town would change procedures. S1 said the intersection problem was addressed and offered to coordinate additional follow-up if residents report further problems. Members discussed the limits imposed by equipment and staffing and said the town would continue to prioritize commuter roads and safety.

The committee did not change plow policy at the meeting; instead members asked staff to keep the group informed of any repeat complaints and to share route and timing details when appropriate.

The committee also noted that complaints about mailboxes and timing of plow passes commonly spike when storms occur during weekday commute hours, and that town staffing and vehicle availability affect how quickly crews can return for secondary passes.