Room 208 in City Hall was packed in anticipation of a lively discussion about proposed changes in the Melilli Plaza parking lot.
No one expected a heated discussion about the best method to melt road snow.
Scott Macdonald has been doing his homework, and he's discovered that Middletown is one of the last Connecticut communities to rely on sand as the primary treatment for road snow in the winter.
According to Macdonald, sand has proven to be the least effective method because it doesn't melt snow, it needs to be repeatedly applied, it's environmentally unsound, it's messy and it needs to be cleaned up in the springtime, and disposed of, at great cost to the city.
Macdonald proposes one of several "enhanced salts" which have proven in tests in several Connecticut cities to be safer, easier to use, more effective and, on all counts, less expensive. Macdonald said that these new materials need not be applied repeatedly on roads because the melting power is residual, and plows do not need to make repeated visits to streets for cleanup.
Macdonald also contended that the conversion is very likely less expensive than what the city has projected.
And while Macdonald appeared passionate to the point of agitation about his enthusiasm for adopting a new snow-melt method, he was visibly upset by what he characterized as a series of rebuffs on the topic by Middletown's director of Public Works, Billy Russo.
"I have a problem with someone who is not performing the most basic aspects of his job," Macdonald said of Russo. "Mr. Russo has not bothered to contact other municipalities. He has not done the research, and he has steadfastly refused to use this method."
Public Works chair Jim Streeto attempted to interject, and keep the passion of the presentation in check, but Macdonald stood his ground, indicating that he had spent three years researching the topic, and had spoken repeatedly to Russo, and to the mayor on the topic. He demanded time to make a list of nine demands, including a request for written guidelines concerning snow removal, analysis of amounts of sand used and collected, a comprehensive analysis of the situation and promise that the city would discontinue the use of sand on his street, Scenic View Drive where Macdonald claims, most of his neighbors has signed a petition demanding an end to sanding on their street.
"Sand doesn't work," Macdonald said. "And if you believe it does, I can sell you a ski slope on Key West."
According to city records that Macdonald acquired, the city spends about $116,000 a year on sand and in the winter of 2008/09 spent $562,000 on snow removal.
Russo defended the city's use of sand and contested Macdonald's numbers saying that he has not had to bolster the DPW overtime fund. He also suggested that he was relying on public works employees to determine policy.
"I've got to stand by the guys out there who are doing a good job," Russo said.
Councilman David Bauer, a member of the Public Works Commission suggested that Macdonald's research was intriguing and that particularly in a time when saving money is essential, further study of the topic is demanded.
"I'd like to have as exacting an analysis as possible," Bauer said.
Commission member and councilman Ron Klattenberg suggested that the commission invite John Philips, a public works director from West Hartford cited in Macdonald's research to address the group.
"He lives in Middletown," Klattenberg said. "It makes sense to invite him to share his experience."
Streeto indicated that he could not promise to have city sand trucks skip Macdonald's street, but he directed Russo to investigate the possibility.
12 comments:
I will repeat what I said at the meeting--any accusation that Billy isn't doing this aspect of his job is just flat wrong. Our commission discusses these kinds of issues on a pretty much year basis--and I know for a fact that the Department does keep up with current developments in these issues. We've discussed liquid clearing, as an alternative, and we did discuss sand this year, at least as to price.
As for the remainder of this posting, it fits into the category of "what I wish I'd said at the meeting"--sorry Billy.
Over the many years I've had the privilege of working with him, Billy has always been a diligent and highly able employee. I was extremely distressed by the tone in Mr. Macdonald's remarks, and feel strongly that it was unfair to Billy Russo and inappropriate for a public meeting. I will not speak for Ron and David--they may append their own comments here.
For myself, based upon many years of experience in a diversity of settings, I am completely satisfied that he and Deputy Director Dobmeier are both fulfilling their duties admirably, and any deficiency is largely attributable to imposed limitations due to budget constraints.
We will nevertheless continue to look into different alternatives to clearing the roads in the winter season, since that is after all a part of our function. If it turns out another method is both equally effective and cheaper, we will certainly implement it.
Mr Streeto
I was at your meeting last night as a member who recieved a letter from the Public Works Dept about my property on Basswood Dr. Mr/ Mcdonals was the most unprofessional person I have ever seen at a Public meeting . I read your comments now but when Mr. Mcdonald when and to attack the Public Works dept you did nothing to stop him He had the floor for 1 hr as my husband and I sat there waitng to speak on an issue . That was my first and last meeting that I will ever attend in the Town Hall if that's what the process is. Let's hope you let the citizens of Middletown be heard in the future and not the discusting show I saw last night from Mr.Mcdonald. Also I will say I go to work early in the morning and I happen to think our Public Works Dept does an outstanding job on the roads. Drive to other towns and see the conditions drivers are left with.
Mr Streeto I was at that meeting last night and that was the most unprofessional conduct i have ever seen. I waited almost 2 hrs to listen to Basswood Dr plan. Mr Mcdonald was totally out of line. I will think long and hard before I attend another meeting at City Hall.
Does anyone see what is wrong with the comments made by Director Bill Russo and endorsed by Councilman Streeto? As the Director of the department, Bill should be relying on data concerning this issue. Relying on his subordinates to determine what product the City should use during snow storms is ludicrious. To try and turn tables by stating, "I've got to stand by the guys out there who are doing a good job," is one of the stratigies Mr. Russo uses all the time. No one indicated the truck drivers and supervisors were doing a poor job. They are working with a product which he, as the Director of the department, endorses, antiquated as it may be. It is the Directors job to research new technologies and methods for performing the tasks which are required of his department. It should not be the publics responsibility to bring new methods of how to update his departments work. Director Russo earns over $100,000 per year to command this City department. He should be ahead of the curve when it comes to snow removal methods, among other things.
Mr. Streeto supports Director Russo's answer, and feels Mr. Macdonald's comments were unfair. I believe Mr. Streeto blindly supports this Director, to the point of disservice to the taxpayer.
I was at the meeting too, for another topic, but I thought Mr. Macdonald made good sense. Sure he was irritated. Who wouldn't be after coming to the city with a good idea that would save money and having it rejected again and again. It's obvious he's done the research and the city has not.
Jim Streeto's defense of Russo is strange. Isn't it his job as commissioner to make sure the department is doing its job? Shouldn't he be welcoming an idea that could save the city hundreds of thousands?
I disagree with Streeto. If Macdonald has contacted Russo many times with no response, where else, but at a public meeting, should he make his ideas known. It is THE most appropriate place and way for him to address these issues, under the circumstances. If he hadn't, would the Public Works committee ever investigate the ideas that Mcdonald brought forward? They hadn't up till now.
Russo is a big boy. He should be able to defend himself, and he did a sorry job.
I'm glad the commission is going to investigate the idea further, but considering so many other cities have moved away from sand I wonder why Middletown is sticking with it.
I urge the public to keep a record of everything. The dates, times, and content of emails, letters and phone calls on any matter related to city business. Keep a record of what you said and what gets told to you at all commission and Common Council Meetings. Make sure you know the name of the administrative assistant you speak to and by chance get information from. Follow up with emails or letters to confirm every conversation and ask for a reply of confirmation. GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING. Otherwise it is just he said, she said, and the citizen with a very legitimate concern or complaint, trying to do the right thing, and behave well, gets treated with an oh so “civil”, disrespect and contempt, and/or is deemed unknowledgeable, unstable, wacko, fringe, lacking in “understanding the needs of Middletown” or if that does not work, in essence as a lair—in very subtle ways, both publically and behind closed doors. I’ve learned the hard way, I know, hell of a lot of time to be spent, to get something done or to get answers to what should be getting done and answered anyway. I understand why many citizens walk away enraged. Good Luck.
Thanks Mr. Streeto, sorry you are taking it on the chin on this one. We need council members who are trusting of the public, (as well as trusting of city employees) who will let ideas for the city, concerns and yes, sometimes grievances be aired in public. I just wish Mr. Macdonald had not lost his cool on this one, it’s a bad precedent when public apologies have to be made. I’d say some ground got lost on this one.
When i heard this guy went to a Public Meeting and spoke all I can say is good luck to people he spoke to. I live on Senic View and happen to think the city does an excellent job plowing and sanding. Keep up the good work.
All you have to do is look to our neighbors(Cromwell) they now use a treated salt instead of sand and the roads are much cleaner.When it does snow the roads are usually just slushy while Middletowns roads are frozen snow pack and dirt.
The state DOT ,Berlin,Meriden, wallingford,Rocky Hill,Hartford,North Haven are just a few of the public works depts i see using "treated salt"
Where does Middletown get its sand from i have a feeling somebody is making out like a bandit.
To Mr. Mcdonald, you do not represent most of the people that live on Scenic View Drive. There must be an alterior motive behind your passion. The "Older" section of the street greatly thanx Public Works for thier long dedicated history of maintaing a deadend road on the outskirts of town. You Sir deffitnetly do not speak for an entire street thankfully. Please turn your tv on to a channel that has a lot of static maybe that will occupy your energetic imagination. When you are out doing yard work just wave because I would not want the nieghbors to think i share your warp views.
Sounds like some snowplow drivers pretending to be Scenic View residents.
Holy cow Jim could you grovel just a lttle less! Anyone who has dealt with Bill knows he dances and doesn't answer the question...EVER! Come on put the admiration aside and do your job
Everyone needs to take a deep breadth and a step back. I have spoken to Mr. Russo and expressed my apologies for not having held my years of frustration in check at the meeting and offered to work with him in gathering the facts necessary to make an informed judgment about the best substance to use for winter road treatment. The message of my presentation was that the City should thoroughly examine why every state in the Northeast including Connecticut, and most surrounding municipalities, have switched to an alternative road treatment that works better, reduces labor costs, and is better for the environment. It is not about whether the Public Works Department and its crew does a good job, all things considered. It is about the fact that there is a substance out there that melts snow and ice down to 10 degrees. And a proper analysis of the cost--including labor cost and spring cleanup--will show that it's not a budget buster, as the City apparently thinks. At least that has been the experience of other CT municipalities. We should all work together to examine this issue on the merits and not divide into opposing camps based upon extraneous factors.
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