Skip to main content

Snow removal during harsh winter remains a challenge for city

By Howard B. Owens

At least one Downtown business owner doesn't think the city is doing enough to address snow removal and he's not convinced the city cares.

Snow piled up on sidewalks and in parking lots costs bars, restaurants and retail shops money, said Derek Geib, owner of Bourbon & Burger Co. on Jackson Street, and the city loses sales tax revenue.

He thinks the city could be more aggressive about finding a solution.

Geib, along with other business owners, met with city officials earlier this winter and were told city work crews act as quickly as possible to remove snow, but there's only so many workers and so many hours they can work.

That isn't a good enough answer, Geib said.

"Accepting this as just the way it is is not an option," Geib said. "It is directly affecting just about every business Downtown. It needs to be addressed and something needs to be proposed as a solution. Reallocate BID funds, raise taxes, cut something else. Jason (City Manager Jason Molino) needs to sit down and address this. That's my only request. We can't just 'deal with it.' This is 2015. I'm sure someone has some solution somewhere."

Molino said, actually, snow pile-up this winter is something every municipality in the Northeast is dealing with this winter.

Unrelenting cold, near record snowfall, and storms spread out at a pace that keeps workers tied up and makes it impossible to keep up with the mounds of frozen water.

"This February has absolutely been challenging to say the least when it comes to snow removal," Molino said. "From Buffalo to Boston, everyone is having the same conversation. It's not just us with this problem. It's the circumstances of the type of weather we're having, and now we're about to get hammered with another snow and ice event, which means our guys will be out far into the night and perhaps into the morning, which means they're not going to be removing snow tomorrow."

The "not enough workers" answers isn't a good one, Geib said.

"We shouldn't as a city accept that things are just the way they are," Geib said. "If there aren't enough employees to actually do the task at hand then people should be made aware of that and budgets should be adjusted. If garbage wasn't getting picked up, it would be an issue. Snow removal is no different. There is a solution, but the City Manager has to recognize there is a problem first."

Molino said he does recognize there's an issue, but without unlimited resources, there's only so much the city can do.

"I understand and sympathize with the frustration business owners feel over snow accumulation," Molino said. "When there's manpower available, we remove the snow from the parking lots and then from the sidewalks. We do the best we can with the manpower we have."

This has been an incredibly difficult and challenging winter for the city's DPW and Water Department workers, as it has been for municipal employees throughout New York, he said.

The constant use of snow-removal equipment also puts a strain on city resources because inevitably, equipment breaks down and needs to be repaired, Molino said.

Under the circumstances, he said, he thinks they've done an incredible job.

Batavia has also been plagued by a series of water line breaks. Typically, those are handled by the Water Department, but the night of the River Street break, Water Department employees were already out helping with plowing and salting, and with the break, the city's already overextended DPW workers had to help with that nasty and complicated break.

"They went from plowing roads to jumping into a water-filled hole on the coldest night of the year," Molino said. "We've had a series of water line breaks in very poor weather and some of these have been large, deep digs that make the job very challenging. Throw on top of that, sub-zero weather, that makes the job very challenging."

Mark Potwora

Hire outside contractors to remove the snow..That would seam like the most logical answer.Private contractors move snow in many private parking lots..I agree with Mr.Geib..Malino's answers aren't good enough.......Maybe if the city didnt hire an asst manager they could of hired a couple of DPW workers..

Mar 3, 2015, 3:09pm Permalink
John Roach

Mark, while I doubt you of all people, would want to hire more DPW workers, you do have a great point. It was brought up at the last City Council meeting that contractors might be an idea or hiring retired DPW workers on a per diem basis, to help out. As you know, Molino said he would look into the Union contract to see if there was anything in it that would prevent it and supposedly get back to Council.

Since hiring anyone would require more money, you are right, eliminate funding for a separate Assistant Manager job at approx. $100,000 and go back to combining it with the DPW job.

But, Council is determined to keep the Assistant (and increase her pay), so your idea might mean a tax increase.

Mar 3, 2015, 3:37pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

The way i see it is the city contracts out taking down and trimming of trees it is not an issue.I would think that many DPW workers would welcome the help clearing up this mess..Did Malino or Sally Kuzon even approach the union with this idea.Maybe the DPW workers have better ideas on how to deal with this ..

Its kind of like when there is a fire and the city calls in other towns to help fight it..It dosen't seem to be an issue then...

Maybe the city could contract with the town of batavia or the county for some help..Especially since we all pay county tax..

Mar 3, 2015, 4:04pm Permalink
DOUGLAS MCCLURG

Snow removal during harsh winter remains a challenge for city
Go figure?Ya know? come on?
If I was boss,.Main street would be cleaned by morning.

Mar 3, 2015, 6:07pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

I don't want the job, but If I was boss, the snowbanks obstructing the view at intersections around the city would be cleared first. I realize public safety generates no revenue, but has been known to prevent costly litigation.

Mar 4, 2015, 9:08am Permalink
Mark Potwora

One thing that might be stopping the city clearing all the corners on main are those huge ugly oversize flower pots. They should been removed before winter to make it easier to clear those intersections.

Mar 4, 2015, 9:54am Permalink

Authentically Local