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Middlebury public works reports 70.6 inches season total, says crews escorted ambulances during blizzard
Summary
Public Works Director Nicholas Sidorick told the commission that a Feb. 22–23 blizzard produced 15.6 inches and contributed to a seasonal total of 70.6 inches; DPW met ambulances at FDHQ and cleared paths to ERs during at least four calls. The department has 500 tons of salt on order.
Middlebury Public Works Director Nicholas Sidorick told the Public Works Commission on March 16 that this winter’s storms have produced a cumulative 70.6 inches of snow and ice in town, and that crews altered de-icing tactics to conserve salt after a prolonged run of storms.
Sidorick said a blizzard on Feb. 22–23 produced 15.6 inches of accumulation and that the department shifted between salt and sand as conditions changed. He told commissioners DPW placed a 500-ton salt order on Jan. 27 but has not yet received delivery from the distributor.
The director reported several operational impacts from resident plows and shoveling that left large piles of snow in the roadway; those piles froze overnight and required DPW to clear them with a loader. He also described emergency support provided during the blizzard: DPW trucks met ambulances at FDHQ, escorted them to emergency calls, plowed driveways at scenes and cleared a path to the hospital ER entrance. Sidorick estimated DPW assisted with about four ambulance calls during the storm period.
Chairman Terry Smith and commissioners discussed enforcement of hazardous snow placement by residents after Sidorick described instances where driveway-clearance actions obstructed public roads. Sidorick said he had spoken with Deputy Chief Ron Hunt about the need to “crack down” on residents who leave large piles in the road, because those piles create hazards that require additional DPW resources to correct.
The meeting record notes routine pothole patrols are continuing as temperatures allow, and that the department temporarily used sand in some locations to conserve the town’s remaining salt supply.
Procedural business at the start of the meeting included a motion from committee member Mark Douty to approve the Feb. 18, 2026 minutes; Mark A. Capodanno seconded and the motion was approved, with Mr. Barra recorded as abstaining because he had not attended the prior meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
