First Snow Of The Season; Is Utica DPW Prepared For Winter?
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: November 27, 2012
You may have noticed a change of scenery over the weekend. For the first
time this season, many around Central New York saw an inch or two of
snow. Eyewitness News spoke with the Utica Department of Public Works
and they say with recent budget cuts, keeping the roads clear this
Winter will be an even bigger challenge than past years.
"With our aging equipment and limited resources, I think we'll be okay. The first storm is an indicator of how we are and I think Saturday and Sunday, this past weekend, we did quite well. If we get into some heavy snow, we may have some difficulties but we'll keep going the best we can," says David Short, Utica Department of Public Works commissioner.
Short says since last year, the DPW has lost about 15 employees through layoffs and attrition, bringing their work force to 60 employees.
"With our aging equipment and limited resources, I think we'll be okay. The first storm is an indicator of how we are and I think Saturday and Sunday, this past weekend, we did quite well. If we get into some heavy snow, we may have some difficulties but we'll keep going the best we can," says David Short, Utica Department of Public Works commissioner.
Short says since last year, the DPW has lost about 15 employees through layoffs and attrition, bringing their work force to 60 employees.
