Let me spell this out for you again

I wrote a similar piece last year around this same time, but apparently some people forget, so let’s have a second attempt.I again will begin with a brief geography lesson. New England, of which Connecticut is part, lies in a relatively northern portion of the planet. As a result, during winter months, Connecticut is subject to conditions commonly referred to as “snow” and “ice.” These cold conditions have existed for several thousand years in New England, and I expect the conditions will likely continue for the foreseeable future (at least for the next few months). In other words, ice and snow are common in Connecticut from as early as November to as late as April.One of the effects of snow and ice is that driving conditions may be somewhat more difficult due to the slippery nature of snow and ice. Caution, increased attentiveness and slower speeds are needed to ensure driving safety. Typically, various methods are used to mitigate the impact of snow and ice to improve driving conditions: salt to melt snow and ice, sand to improve traction.The group tasked to apply the salt and sand to Winchester roads is the Public Works Department. The Public Works workers have assigned routes and designated areas which they are responsible for maintaining. With approximately 80 miles of roads in town, the task of winter maintenance is somewhat formidable, but, when needed, the job is well-done.The issues for winter maintenance are two-fold. First, weather patterns do not know how to tell time or read a calendar. That means that sometimes, winter storms happen overnight or on the weekend, which leads to the second issue, manpower and equipment.This is Winsted, and the community has been hesitant to invest in capital purchases, such as trucks, which are a critical component to snow removal operations. As has been often repeated, the current fleet of town trucks is old, with most vehicles aged 10 years or older (nine of 12, with the oldest being 22 years old). Maintenance of trucks and related snow removal equipment such as plows, salters and sanders becomes difficult and more expensive on older machinery.In the past (read as “We always did it that way”), at the first report of winter conditions, crews were immediately dispatched, regardless of the time or day. These efforts resulted in the most extreme effort to ensure driving safety: drivers clamor for dry and clear roads (without recognizing the cost associated with winter maintenance efforts), and even if the roads are not dry and clear, many still drive as if they were.Neil Amwake, Public Works director, presented a report to the Board of Selectmen and the community at an October Board of Selectmen meeting. A copy of the full report is available to review on the town’s website. The report outlines the philosophy, challenges, procedures and costs related to snow removal.Snow removal operations demand nearly all Public Works staff, including several employees who are not part of the Highway Division. These additional employees are pulled from water and sewer operations in order to staff the 13 snow plow routes that have been designed to cover over 80 miles (in most cases, doubled, since the roads handle two-way traffic) of town roads. Other services and projects become lower priorities during snow removal operations.All roads are not cleared instantaneously. Although we monitor weather forecasts and attempt to properly plan for snow, at times, conditions may surprise us. In those circumstances, it takes roughly 90 minutes to two hours to mobilize and get equipment out. Even when we plan, it takes time to manhandle a massive snow plow along the entire length of one of the 13 routes. The route has to start at one point and end at another — which means some places may get plowed and salted earlier.Town staff has recommended changes to snow-related parking regulations in order to improve efficiency and safety. The parking ban on streets is proposed to be extended to midnight (instead of 1 a.m.) until 6 a.m. The fine for violating the nighttime parking restriction is increased to $100, and vehicles may be towed. In other words, simply do not park on the streets at night from November through March.Amwake’s presentation also illustrated the costs associated with snow removal operations. For example, small overnight or morning storms cost approximately $10,000 (roughly $50 per hour for personnel, equipment and supplies). A major storm can cost nearly $30,000. Snow removal is not cheap.A few final points of clarification. The town does not plow school parking lots. This policy has been conveyed to school officials on several occasions and was reiterated in Amwake’s presentation. In order to provide sufficient rest for personnel, snow removal operations may be suspended during overnight hours, when traffic is typically less. Mailbox damage will only be compensated for those mailboxes physically hit by snow plows, not thrown snow or ice. A “ride-along” program has been offered so that interested residents can see the challenges of snow removal operations first-hand. For more information, please visit the town’s website.Thank you for your consideration and understanding. Please drive slower and more safely this winter.Dale Martin is the town manager of Winchester.