Alderman at Large Jack Connolly had high praise for the job that the mayor and his administration has done in dealing with the extraordinarily severe winter storms.

By Jim Clark

The City of Somerville Board of Aldermen addressed several winter storm related issues at its regular meeting last Thursday, going through an assessment of what has been handled well over the past few weeks and what areas may be in need of improvement.

On the whole, there was a general consensus that the city’s response to the extreme snow events were handled skillfully and professionally. The Board formally commended Mayor Curtatone and his administration, especially the Department of Public Works, Police and Fire Departments for their professionalism, dedication to duty and responsibility in dealing with the unprecedented snow fall, (nearly 6 feet of snow within a two week period), while maintaining the public safety throughout the city. The Board offered its most sincere gratitude for a job well done.

Remarking on the matter, Alderman at Large Jack Connolly said, “I spoke to many people travelling in from other communities, from Medford, from Arlington, people coming off Route 2, and how they remarked, almost to a person, how extraordinary it was to come into the city and find all the roadways down to the pavement, virtually every side street at least open and available.”

Connolly specifically commended the mayor and 311 services. “I’ve seen a lot through the years,” said Connolly, “This was a well-organized and well-maintained effort to do the one thing that we’re here to do, to preserve the public safety.”

Shifting its attention to some areas that they felt may be in need of improvement, the Board next took up various issues brought forward by city officials and residents.

Ward Five Alderman Mark Niedergang brought forward an order for the Commissioner of Public Works to report to this Board why, after the first big storm on Wednesday, January 28, snow plows inundated sidewalks on the even side of the street with snow and large ice boulders, causing residents to have to shovel out their sidewalks several times, and what measures are being taken so that this does not happen again.

“I got probably 50 calls and emails from outraged residents whose sidewalks had been plowed in,” said Niedergang. “I think hopefully there’s been some learning. I think there was a little bit of exuberance and overexertion by some of the folks who were plowing, which caused higher speeds than necessary causing snow to arc up over snow banks onto sidewalks. Several people had to shovel two or three times.”

Niedergang reported that he had spoken with the appropriate parties and that he was confident these problems would not be repeated.

On a similar matter, Niedergang put forward an order for the Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (ISD) to report to the Board on the process for issuing citations during snowstorms to private plowing and shoveling contractors who are plowing snow into the street or onto neighbors’ sidewalks.

“I heard quite a few complaints from residents and I went out on a plow as well, and the plow driver complained about private contractors who are hired by residents, not by the city, who basically do not obey the rules,” Niedergang explained. “Obviously, these people need to be caught and punished so that they will stop doing that.”

Niedergang said that he put forward the order to bring it to the attention of ISD in the hopes that the situation would become better regulated.

Mayor Curtatone addressed the Board and provided an overview of how he felt the cleanup and public safety programs were progressing.

“As you know, we’ve received over six feet of snow in the last two and a half weeks,” the mayor said. “I want to thank the public for their patience, flexibility and understanding and apologize for all the inconvenience. I know it’s hard on them.”

The mayor emphasized that all decisions have been made with the public’s health and safety being of the utmost priority.

The mayor continued, “I’m proud of the work we do in this city. I proclaim we have the best snow removal operations in the region. And I also think we can do better. It’s going to take a collective effort to move forward.”