Town announces changes to plowing policy
By Ken Powers Contributing Writer

Northborough - Changes to the town's policy on the salting and sanding of private ways could lead to a cost increase for some residents.

The selectmen unanimously approved at their Oct. 22 meeting a 3.5 percent increase in snow plowing and sanding and salting services. The fee for plowing a street less than 3,000 feet long was raised from $140 to $145 per storm, as was the fee for salting and sanding a street of the same size. For streets more than 3,000 feet long, the fee for both services was raised from $280 to $290 per storm.

Buzanoski blamed increases in fuel, materials, labor and equipment as the reason for the increase.

Included in Buzanoski's proposal - and approved by the selectmen - is the stipulation that beginning this winter residents of private ways cannot decide not to have sanding and salting services provided on a storm-by-storm basis. As with public roadways, the town will decide during each story whether a road needs to be plowed, sanded or salted, or any combination of the three.

It's a policy change that is not sitting well with residents of private ways.

"I think it's too much sand and too much money," Patrick Hart, who lives on the portion of Howard Street considered a private way, said at the meeting.

Hart said he isn't concerned with the $5 increases, but more that residents will not have their own discretion to have the sand and salt or not.

Peter Fournier lives on the same stretch of Howard Street as Hart, and he does not want to have to pay for salt and sand when he does not want it.

"The bill would grow significantly," Fournier said. "If we don't want to have the street sanded or salted, we should have the flexibility to decide that."

According to Selectman Dawn Rand, Fournier and Hart have that flexibility.

"I live on a private road, too, and we made the decision to hire a private service to do the work," Rand said. "If you're unhappy with the decision of the board, that may be a decision you want to look into."

Buzanoski said she made the decision to ask for the sanding and salting requirement be added after getting feedback from plow drivers who said they are concerned about sliding off streets that haven't been treated with a de-icing compound.

Town Administrator Barry Brenner said the plowing, sanding and salting of private ways is not a legal requirement, but rather a service the town offers.