Department of Public Works Director Michael Gallagher discusses the departments’ snow removal process during the Feb. 3 City Council meeting.
Photo credit: Holyoke Media
HOLYOKE — With the recent snowstorm and freezing conditions, many communities like Holyoke have been left with a lot of snow and complaints from residents on the clean-up process.
During the City Council meeting on Feb. 3, the council approved a motion that authorizes the city to sign a lease agreement for storage of snow at 20 Water St. for a total of three months. The decision comes after the major snow storm that occurred between Jan. 25 and 27.
Due to a need for this agreement, the order asked that the City Council rule on it immediately as opposed to going through a sub-committee.
Department of Public Works Director Michael Gallagher sent the lease to the City Council and also attended the meeting to discuss the snow cleanup going forward.
In a letter to the City Council, Gallagher explained that in years past, the city relied on the municipal lot on North Canal Street for snow storage, however, that lot is no longer available because it is currently in use by nearby businesses.
In the past, the city used properties on Water Street, owned by HG&E, and on Sargeant Street at the end of Race Street for snow storage. Both options are no longer viable because they have been developed with solar installations.
Without an appropriate snow storage site, Gallagher said the DPW faces significant limitations when responding to major snow events.
“If we experience another substantial storm, it will be increasingly difficult to clear streets safely and effectively without extended parking restrictions or potential public safety concerns,” he stated.
Approval of the lease provides the city with a practical solution to help maintain passable roadways while minimizing impacts on residents and businesses, according to the city.
Going forward, Gallagher outlined areas that represent general priorities for snow removal, including streets and intersections requiring urgent safety attention, downtown metered areas and nearby narrow streets. He also spotlighted High and Maple streets, areas outside meter zones, narrow residential neighborhoods throughout the city, and city-owned properties as major priorities for snow removal.
He said he currently does not have a plan for bus stops because he believes that is the resposibility of the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority.
However, he stated, “As we go along through the snow removal process, and if there’s any pressing issues, we always try to help and take care of what we can.”
City Councilor Mike Sullivan talked about the need for approving the lease, stating, “I think it’s obvious to everybody in the council; they’ve received numerous calls, I think, everywhere regarding the snow removal; totally different topic as far as the equipment and stuff. I’d really like to thank Mayor [Joshua] Garcia for his leadership in bringing this problem forward. This is something we haven’t seen in the city in years.”
Sullivan noted that the DPW has also done the work understaffed and with equipment that’s “not quite up to the task, to put it midly.” He stated that they deserve a lot of praise.
He also added how, even a week after this “catastrophic” snowstorm took place, he still sees people in wheelchairs and walkers forced in the street due to the lack of sidewalk space.
City Councilor Patti Devine highlighted the potentially dangerous conditions while driving with snow on the streets.
“Especially when you get to a corner, you almost have to edge yourself out because the snow banks are so high,” Devine stated. “Thank God the [parking] ban is still on. I can give you an example. Either today or yesterday, I was going over Hillside Avenue, and all I kept saying was, ‘Please God, don’t let anyone come the opposite way that I am going, because we could not have fit through.”
Gallagher said the lease is included as a snow removal expenditure and that Holyoke is not the only community leasing property to store snow.
Gallagher also said the DPW ran into some problems with illegal parking that went against the parking ban. He explained, “I know the Police Department towed vehicles. We did run into problems. We did also, I will say, so far this winter, we had the most cooperation in enforcement with the parking ban.”
Garcia and city councilors were also out during the storm going door to door to ask residents to follow the parking ban.
The City Council unanimously approved the lease.
