Snow Removal Policies and Procedures

We at the Public Works Department would like to wish you a safe and enjoyable winter season. Here are a few points of information for understanding our snow removal processes.

The Town of Middleton Public Works Department maintains 65 miles of roadway and 12 municipal parking lots in the snow removal and road de-icing operations. There are also 7 miles of sidewalks maintained by the Department and 7 town buildings to shovel walkways and handicap ramps.

The Department has four trucks available for road de-icing efforts and ten trucks for snow removal operations. Contracted equipment and operators are also utilized on a regular basis to clear roadways.

Plan of Operations:

1. When the snow starts falling, road de-icing equipment is first used to apply chemicals to keep roads safe.

2. After three inches of snow has accumulated on the streets, the snow plowing operation begins for the duration of a snowstorm.

3. When the snow stops and the roads are clear, road de-icing chemicals are again applied on all streets to prevent “freeze-ups”.

4. Department personnel then start clearing sidewalks and walkways of Town buildings.

Parking Bans:

  • An overnight parking ban on all Middleton streets is in effect from December 1st through April 1st between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
  • When snow warnings are issued, residents are requested to keep their vehicles off all streets to expedite plowing operations and to prevent damage to private vehicles. The Town is not responsible for damaged lawns, fences, steps, shrubs, trees or mailboxes that are within the street layout.
  • Plow vehicles, while employed by the Town, cannot be hired or requested to clear driveways or walks.
  • Unaccepted subdivision roadways are the developers’ responsibility to plow, de-ice and maintain throughout the season.
  • For your convenience, sand may be obtained by residents at the Public Works Department garage for emergency purposes.

Frequently asked questions:

Q.    Why do you wait to plow the snow off of the streets?

A.     After applying road de-icing chemicals, we wait for the chemicals to react with the snow to create “brine”.  This reaction time depends on a number of variables (i.e. traffic flow, temperature, etc.) The “brine” keeps the snow from sticking to the street and helps in snow removal operations.  It is for this reason that we request residents with plows not to “help” us by plowing a street that has not been plowed, as the chemicals may not have had time to react and by doing so may hinder the snow operations.

Q.    Who begins the snow removal operations?

A.     During normal Public Works Department business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) the Superintendent of Public Works, or his designee, decides when conditions warrant the commencement of snow removal operations.  After normal Public Works Department business hours, the Middleton Police Department decides when the streets become unsafe.

Q.    Who determines school closure?

A.     The Superintendent of Schools confers with the Public Works Department on the road conditions of the bus routes.  The cancellation of school is then decided by the Superintendent of Schools.  Local news channels and Public Access Channel 22 both carry school cancellation notices.

Q.    Why does my street always seem like the last one plowed?

A.     Traffic volume is the determining factor for order in snow removal operations.  You may feel that your street is the last to be cleared of snow, but our main objective is to make all drivers safe during snowstorms.  Please be patient.  All of the streets will be cleared of snow in order of traffic volume.

To report unplowed or un-sanded streets, please call the Public Works Department at (978) 777-0407.

DEPARTMENT ROSTER:

Paul Goodwin, Superintendent

Ken Gibbons, Deputy Superintendent

Ann Marie Senese, Clerk/Dispatcher

Tony Bertone, Water Systems Operator

Scott Saulnier, Equipment Operator

Glenn Osgood, Equipment Operator

Paul Ajootian, Equipment Operator

John Black, Equipment Operator

Travis Davies, Equipment Operator

Philip DaSilva, Equipment Operator

Luke Peary, Equipment Operator