Snow Removal
The Department of Public Works is responsible for snow removal from all Town roadways with the exception of Route 28, which is plowed and maintained by the Massachusetts Highway Department. This includes private roads, provided that they are in good repair (see Town Policy no. 014 adopted by the Board of Selectmen in 1999.)
If a private road is not in good repair it will be placed on the "Do Not Plow List." Each year the Department of Public Works performs inspections of private roads to ensure they are in good repair. Residents will be notified of this list by local newspaper publications, local cable station advertisement and or door hangers. Residents will be notified in advance of the winter season allowing for ample time to make the necessary repairs. Once these repairs are made residents may contact the Department of Public Works at 508-539-1420. Once notified the Department of Public Works will re-inspect the road and remove it from the "Do Not Plow List."
The Department of Public Works is also responsible for removing snow at Town facilities including the town hall, the fire station, the police station, the library, the cemeteries, the transfer station and the senior center as well as for assisting the school department with snow removal.
Procedurally, as snowfall begins to cover roads, sand trucks will be dispatched to pre-sand paved surfaces in order to reduce packing of snow and ice. The Department of Public Works uses a ratio of one part salt to four parts manufactured sand. This ratio may be varied, at the discretion of the Director of Public Works, if certain weather conditions, such as extreme cold or unseasonably warm temperatures, are present.
If snow accumulation reaches 3 inches, personnel and equipment will then be dispatched to their assigned routes for town wide plowing with the primary focus being on primary roads followed by collector roads and private roads. Click Here for a List of These Roads.
Snow plowing will continue as necessary throughout the duration of the storm. Certain weather conditions, such as a change over to rain or freezing rain, may result in temporary suspension of plowing operations. This decision will be made at the discretion of the Director of Public Works.
Sidewalks will be plowed by the Department of Public Works only after the storm has ended.
During a storm, residents may call the Department of Public Works at 508-539-1420 with any questions or concerns. Depending upon the severity of the storm, calls may be answered by a recording. All messages will be responded to, however, in as timely a manner as possible. Complaints about snow plowing operations will be investigated and addressed by the Director of Public Works within 48 hours of a storm ending.
Please note that the Department of Public Works maintains contact with police and fire personnel throughout a storm to ensure emergency access as required.
These procedures may be changed during the course of a storm, sometimes abruptly, in order to provide the best overall results or to respond to a specific situation. Any changes will be made at the discretion of the Director Public Works.
For more information contact the Department of Public Works at 508-539-1420.