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New Milford shifts funds to cover heavy snow season, authorizes purchase of additional road materials
Summary
Following a prolonged winter run, the council approved an $80,000 transfer to public-works overtime and authorized roughly $170,000 to buy about 2,000 tons of road-treatment materials to cover unusually high demand.
The New Milford Town Council approved transfers to cover overtime and materials after public works officials described an unusually heavy series of winter storms.
Public Works staff told the council the town typically budgets for roughly 5,500 tons of materials and about $550,000 in material costs for the season; this year’s storms have used material faster than expected and driven overtime. Chuck, speaking for Public Works, said current requests would buy about 2,000 tons of treated material (estimated at roughly $170,000) and provide an additional $80,000 for overtime hours. He said those amounts should carry the town through the rest of the winter if no major storms recur.
The council approved the transfers after questions and a brief staff explanation. Chuck emphasized that storms falling on weekends or nights produce higher overtime costs and that the department had gained some savings on salt per ton through purchasing agreements.
What it means next: The transfers provide immediate budget coverage to maintain road treatment and plowing service levels through the winter; department heads will continue to report on costs at future hearings.
Quote: "This next storm alone is estimated to cost about $89,000 — $38,000 in overtime and $51,000 in materials," Chuck said.
