Manager says village spent snow budget after unusual storm; council to consider adjustment

Manager Michael Sullivan gave a debrief of the recent storm and its operational and budgetary impacts, telling the council the village has already spent its entire snow budget for the season. "We have already spent our entire budget for snow," he said, noting the $30,000 set aside for snowplowing and an additional $15,000 approved for sidewalk plowing have been exhausted and that a budget adjustment will be required if more plowing is needed.

Sullivan praised the village snow crew and residents who helped neighbors, while acknowledging complaints about plow crews leaving windrows at driveways and about private contractors being in high demand. He said the village received many requests from residents to have the village contractor clear private driveways, but cautioned that contractors who work private jobs are not available to keep clearing village roads.

Sullivan also reviewed the administrative calendar: a public budget working session is set for March 5 (evening Zoom) and the draft fiscal-year budget will be introduced at the March 19 council meeting. He said Brookville sidewalk construction is delayed until sustained nights of 35°F and that RFPs for trash/recycling and the village arborist will be posted.

Council members praised the snow response and asked staff to communicate clearly with residents about best practices after storms, including not shoveling snow onto sidewalks. The council approved the prior meeting minutes with a correction and adjourned the meeting.

The council scheduled a budget working session to consider a possible snow-budget amendment and other fiscal items.