Braintree Boosts Snow Plow Rates to Attract Heavier Equipment

The Town of Braintree has taken steps to improve its large-scale snow and ice response after last winter challenged the efforts of local officials across the region.

Braintree increased its per hour rates on snow removal equipment by about $20 in each category after officials surveyed surrounding communities and found Braintree was on the lower-end of the scale, Chief of Staff and Operations Peter Morin said.

For instance, the per hour rate for Outside Snow Removal Contractors who use a front-end loader with an 11-foot plow is now $165. A Bobcat loader is now $80 per hour and a trailer dump truck is $95. 

These prices put Braintree in a more attractive position to obtain heavier equipment and retain contractors, Morin said. Last year, during the February blizzard, several contractors quit during the storm. That, combined with equipment failures, caused delays in the plowing of some streets and neighborhoods.

"We're ready to go in a better position this year than this time last fall," Morin said.

Police Chief Russell Jenkins has also set up a communications center at the police HQ in cooperation with the DPW, fire department and Fallon Ambulance. "That has worked well," Morin said, "but I think we can do better."

This year the snow and ice removal budget has again increased by $50,000, to $400,000. Last year the town budgeted $350,000 and spent approximately $1 million.

Snow budgets are unique among municipal finances in that they are an area in which towns are allowed to regularly go beyond planned spending because of the uncertainty of weather. That, combined with a state law that says a town may not budget less for snow than it did the year before, means that base budgets are typically set lower than expenses.

Town Councilor Sean Powers, who requested the storm update from the mayor's office for last week's council meeting, said he was glad the town increased equipment rates but said he still had concerns about the cost for smaller vendors of contracting with the town.

Powers also requested that councilors be regularly briefed during storms so that communication about the town's snow response can best reach their constituents.

"At times the information flow could have been improved," Powers said.