Monday, March 23, 2015

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK

 
What do you think? 
Is Public Works being conscientious when it 
comes to spending your tax dollars?
                                Let the threads speak.


From: Billboy Baggins
Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2015 7:09 AM
To: Russo, William
Cc:
Subject: Plowing
Dear Mr. Russo,
At 5:00 AM I heard a snow plow pass my house on East Main St. and saw another plow on Jenson Place.  Looking out at about 5:30, I noticed that the pavement in the driveway was still visible.  Putting on a pair of flip flops, I walked to the end of the drive and observed that the street had received no more snow than did the driveway and that it had been sanded and salted.  While outside, I could hear plowing going on around the neighborhood.
Less than an hour later, another plow passed my house; and again, at 6:55 another.  That is three times in less than two hours.  (Twice in the same direction)   The total snow accumulation in my driveway at this time, 7:08, is 5/8".
Mr. Russo, while it seems reasonable to sand and salt ahead of the 1 to 3 inches of snow predicted by the national weather service, I have a hard time understanding why our city's plow operators would think it necessary to have the plows on the pavement, when there is virtually NO snow on it.  It is also difficult to understand why, an hour later, with little to no accumulation, they would come back and plow what had just been sanded and salted, and an hour later, to do the same.
Operating plows under such circumstances does not seem to be reasonable.  The noise it creates unnecessarily disturbs people's sleep, (I'm up at that hour, anyway) and unnecessarily adds wear and tear to the plows and the trucks and leads to additional fuel consumption. (not to mention overtime)
I urge that in the future, city employees be restrained from using city resources in such a wasteful manner.
Very truly yours,
BillBoy Baggins

On Thursday, March 5, 2015 09:31, "Russo, William" <William.Russo@MiddletownCT.Gov> said:

We wanted to make sure that everything was completely bare for school , which was going to start with no delay. When it comes to safety, especially for school children, I don’t believe we were unreasonable or wasteful.
  I’m very sorry we disturbed anyone’s sleep. Our driver’s haven’t slept home more than two nights in a row since the beginning of February
                          Bill

On Thursday, March 5, 2015 09:54, Billboy Baggins
  said:
Dear Mr. Russo,

Thank you for your courteous reply.  However, I must respectfully disagree with your assessment that that it is not unreasonable or wasteful to plow half an inch of snow.  And, having a granddaughter in 3rd grade at McDonough, (sp) I don't accept the "for the safety of the children" argument.

No less than eight times, perhaps more, (twice since I sat down to write this), since 5AM, have the plows come up and down my street with the plows engaged! There is less than an inch of snow on the ground, now, and at 5:00 there was only a dusting.

I can see sanding and salting ahead of the snow, but to sand and salt, then plow away the sand and salt and re-sand and salt makes no sense, at all.

How much has the city exceeded this year's snow removal budget?   While I appreciate the job the plow operators perform, I don't feel the least bit sorry for them not sleeping at home more than two nights in a row since the beginning of February.  With the overtime they are getting, they can all take a two week vacation to the Caribbean, on the taxpayer's dime.   

Bill

I received no further responses to the above.
Here we are 16 days later . . . 
On Saturday, March 21, 2015 12:39 PM, BillBoy Baggins wrote:


Dear Mr. Russo,
It is 12:12 PM, the sun is shining, the temperature is 34 degrees and the national weather service predicts an afternoon high of 43.  Is there a logical reason city trucks are plowing bare, wet-at-best pavement?
Does not the public works dept. have any regard for the prudent, responsible use of the city taxpayer's money?
Very truly yours,
BillBoy Baggins
There has been no response to this, yet.
If This sort of thing irks you, start speaking out!

 

16 comments:

  1. You just have to look at the snow piled up against the fence at Pat Kidney field and Bill Russo has to hire a consultant to tell us that the fence needs to be replaced, no accountability. Why couldn't Bill Russo conduct the evaluation on television fields is he that inept in his job, this is what happens when the wrong people are people are giving jobs because of who they are related to or how mush ass they kiss.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nor will you get a response from Bill Russo because he doesn't have a legitimate answer for you. His job is to drive up budget costs when he can, to acquire more dollars from the Common Council and hide other overspending in his budget.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mr Boylan , as I sit reading this I'm disturbed that someone would sit there on their fat butt and complain about the guys that keep our streets clean and safe. I have to say that the ambulance and firetrucks thst where able to save that persons life were glad they plowed that little bit of snow that was making everybody spin out on Friday night. don't you think that these fellows would rather be sitting in their living rooms also enjoying their families instead of on the road for two and three days at a clip! god forbid your sleep got disturbed maybe you should try sleeping in front seat of one of those trucks on a cold winter night, or not being able to take a shower for two days , yep it's just like being in the Caribbean laying on a raft. god forbid our country gets invaded and fighter jets have to fly over your house. you sir are an idiot for even putting fingers to keys and complaining about this

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous 3 either didn't read the blog or didn't understand it. (Or maybe he isn't a tax payer; or maybe he is just rich and selfish.)

    The author didn't lose any sleep over it (I have no idea who this Boylan character is) (And how do you know he has a fat butt?)and I'm sure that little bit of snow would have totally prevented a firetruck from getting out of the driveway.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Just what does snow on Friday night have to do with plowing bare streets on Saturday afternoon, anyway?

    ReplyDelete
  6. "Reorganizing of the Parks Maintenance Division into the Public Works Department
    The fiscal budgets for these two (2) individual divisions/departments in 2010-2011, prior to joining them together was $6,040,000. ($1.32 million for Parks, $4.72 million for Public Works) The 2013-2014 fiscal budget which is after consolidation of these two (2) departments is $6,214,000; an almost $200,000 increase to perform the same work as prior to the consolidation, with less personnel." http://www.middletowninsider.com/2015/03/and-justice-for-all-going-for-third.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. THIS right here is why we need & I read the Insider! We love plow guys, of course they are needed to get roads clear & the rest if us to work. Yes they sacrifice. However they get PAID. And the department direct is not above criticism especially when he directed his workers to scrape bare roads! How much overtime was spent on this?! Russo can't even keep track of the equipment the city has let alone employees apparently. Great post Bill!

    ReplyDelete
  8. As you can tell, Director Russo is a graduate of the "Tom & Joe Serra School of Political Phrasing", when he commented; "especially for school children". That phrase is used by politicians when they cannot truthfully answer a question or come up with a proper solution.
    Uncle Joe is tutoring Bill so he can take his spot as Middletown's State Representative when the time comes. That way he can still control Middletown.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Huh. Same public works director who directed the base of Councilman Serra's driveway be repaved on the City's dime.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Can anyone tell me why Mr. Russo has not opened the parks yet? According to the signage at them, they were suppose to open on March 1st.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The things you all fight about are just so dumb. I get the impression you can't be happy unless you have something to complain about. God forbid you use your format to make a public effort for bipartisan cooperation. This city stinks on both sides of the aisle. (I, am not a Dem either)

    ReplyDelete
  12. You the author are "this Boylan character." The final email that was sent to Bill Russo as posted is signed: "Very truly yours, William Boylan"

    ReplyDelete
  13. To answer your question, yes I think that Public Works is being conscientious in spending tax dollars. It is a difficult job requiring decisions to be made based upon imperfect predictions. Bitching and moaning based upon your imperfect hindsight is much easier. Any ass can do that.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is how the Public Works director got and holds onto his job: they are having a fundraiser at the establishment he is a silent owner in tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What establishment is Russo a silent owner in?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Where all the politicians hang out and get their free food and drinks...Matty's Next Door Sports Bar.

    ReplyDelete

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