The Public Service Committee is sending correspondence to the Mayor with a copy to the Human Resource Director asking they “do all they can do to supplement the workforce of the Highway Department in response to the employment challenges that the City is currently facing for the winter of 2023-24.”
Dane Arnold speaks of Staffing Issues at Public Service Committee
DPW Director Dane Arnold, City Engineer Rob Oliva, and Development and Planning Director Trevor Beauregard spoke to the Public Service Committee on December 15, 2023. Listen to the meeting on any device. CLICK PLAY
Committee Chair and Outgoing Councilor James Walsh received a “Walsh’s Walk, It’s not his Fault, It’s Asphalt” sign from Dane Arnold of DPW as a parting gift.
Dane Arnold spoke about the letter he wrote to the Mayor and City Council in November stating, “just trying to give the Mayor and City Council a heads up as well as trying to get it out there for the residents that this winter we might not be as, the streets might not be plowed as quick as they have in the past. We are currently short on the highway side, 7 employees out of 25 positions.” And there’s also 2 retirees” In answering a question from Councilor Walsh, Arnold explained that “part of the issue is if they open up to the DPW contract to negotiate it, there’s a reopening clause in every contract throughout the City. So you know, if someone’s getting a piece of the pie, it’s going to have to go around through all the other departments as well.” He did say that the contractor rate had been bumped up to $95 per hour, “but we still haven’t gotten any responses from contractors.” Arnold explained that the City at one time had 14 contractors, then 4, and now, none. He stated that the Police Department has offered to plow their lots themselves if the City parks a vehicle there. Director Arnold offered other updates as well.
Engineer Rob Oliva spoke of the Disc Golf Course going up at the park on Leo Drive – two individuals are volunteering to come up with a layout for the course. There’s some action on the Wayside Dam Project, consultant is filing some environmental forms this week. “And then the other thing, which is kind of big news, is we had applied for a Safe Streets for All Grant…I just got the email saying it was awarded…That’s a $230,000 grant to develop the citywide plan.” Grant has a 20 percent match required by the City. As far as the Sludge Landfill, “we’ll be setting up some public outreach meetings as part of what the MEPA is requiring.” And as far as the Uptown Rotary Project, it’s buttoned up for the winter, will resume in the spring, and Fall 2024 completion “is still in the works.”
Director Trevor Beauregard spoke of the salary study saying, “We all anxiously await its distribution and implementation so that we can catch up in various parts of the City, I think.” He spoke of various projects including Maki Park which will have 3 tiers and will bring in electricity so that there can be EV charging at the adjacent parking lot. He spoke of Phase 4 of the Downtown Improvements. The Pedestrian-Bike bridge over 140 is “in the 25% to 30% design phase range.”