Westfield snow and ice removal costs exceeded $2.7 million

Westfield DPW trucks line up on their way to clear streets during a snow event this past winter.
Reminder Publishing photo by Marc St. Onge.

WESTFIELD — While the inches of recorded snow that fell in the city this winter was average, the number of plowable events was the reason snow and ice removal costs are over $1 million over last year’s cost.

“This year, the city’s snow and ice expenses are $2.73 million,” said DPW Director Randy Brown.

For comparison, he said last year’s costs were $1.64 million, and the year before totaled $1.2 million.

“There may be a few more bills rolling in over the next few weeks before we close the books on this budget item, so it may go up a little,” Brown added.

Mayor Michael McCabe acknowledged the increase, but said, “Of course, there’s nothing you can do that’s going to control the weather.”

According to the National Weather Service, the average snowfall in Westfield is 43.2 inches. This year, 41.5 inches fell throughout the city.

But it’s not the amount that fell that’s driving the costs up.

“We had a total of 15 plowable events this year, plus additional efforts to clean up downtown after the big event in January,” Brown said.

The largest expense was the private contractors hired to clear the 190 miles of streets and roads the DPW actively maintains at a cost of $1.735 million.

McCabe said some of the contractors told the city before winter set in that they might not be available because of several years of unprofitable seasons.

“So, now all of a sudden you’re in this incredibly profitable season, and you don’t have people with the right trucks …fortunately enough for us, we were able to get all the contracts in place by the end of October and early November through our procurement process, so we had enough,” the mayor said.

Brown said the contractors pushed snow at the city’s schools, the Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport and City Hall.

McCabe said a lot of residents don’t understand all the costs involved in clearing the streets.

“There’s overtime for clearing the bridges. And the more sidewalks you put in, obviously, the more you have to clean,” he said.

Overtime costs are so far at $200,395, with salt and deicer costs at $518,066, and fuel costs at $186,420, according to Brown.

Other miscellaneous expenses like parts, supplies, equipment repairs, radios and police added another $91,472 to the total.

McCabe said, like previous years, the costs of snow and ice removal are covered by free cash.

Brown said he was “grateful” to the DPW crews and the contractors for their hard work, professionalism, and long hours they put in this winter season.

“Their dedication shows and reflects a strong commitment to serving our community,” he said.