Below is a portion of a rough draft "Snow Emergency" plan that is being used by our Department of Public Works, and has been reviewed by council. Kudos to the interim director of Public Works, the assistant director, the municipal administrator and all the great staff of the Public Works Department for putting this together. I share this information because:
1) I have a commitment to transparent government and it is important you know and understand our plan
2) Residents abide by the rules contained herein, which cite laws concerning clearing sidewalks and prohibiting placing snow into the street.
3) That you understand the order and priority of salting and snow removal -- major thoroughfares first, secondary and tertiary roads later.
The goal is to get streets clear, and keep residents safe.
I'll post updates on this blog as the situation develops and as our municipal administrator in concert with the Public Works director make critical decisions.
Thank you for your patience and please stay warm and safe!
Sincerely,
Councilman Marlon Millner
---------------------------------
Emergency Action Plan
Snow Emergency
Municipality of Norristown
IntroductionEach winter the Norristown Public Works Department is responsible for snow and ice operations. Though no two storms are alike, and each may require a somewhat different response, this plan is intended as a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for most winter storms.
Preparation
The Public Works Director shall ensure that there are sufficient resources available to plow for 48 consecutive hours without interruption. An important objective of this SOP is to have 16 qualified employees capable of operating snow-plowing equipment. This will mean that CDL drivers and other employees must be trained on snow-plowing operations. Every employee in the Public Works Department with a drivers license shall be capable of plowing snow either with CDL equipment or a pick up truck.
In March of each year the Public Works Director shall make arrangements with vendors for salt and/or anti-skid material procurement through the Montgomery County Consortium of Communities.
In September of each year, the Public Works Director shall ensure that all qualified public works employees understand how to properly operate and maintain plows and spreaders. Every public works employee shall receive a review of plowing routes and procedures contained in this SOP.
In September of each year Public Works Director shall ensure that equipment needed for winter emergencies is checked and sent out for service if required.
The Public Works Director shall maintain a list of contractors, who in the event of emergency, failed equipment, or excessive snow, can be called upon to assist in Municipal snow removal operations. In September of each year the Public Works Director shall prepare a RFP for the procurement of contractor services. The resulting contract shall “lock in” the price the successful contractor(s) shall charge during the coming winter.
Equipment
The following equipment will be used for routine snow events in Norristown:
- 3 10-ton dump trucks with plows and spreaders; 4 1-ton pick ups with plows and spreaders; and 2 pick ups with spreaders.
Plowing Routes
Salting and plowing shall begin first on PennDOT routes and the major arterial routes and collector streets, including any residential streets that serve as a route for emergency vehicles, to ensure access into and out of Norristown by emergency vehicles:
- Main Street
- DeKalb Street
- Swede Street
- Marshall Street
- Sterigere Street
- Airy Street
- Markley Street
- Lafayette Street
- Johnson Highway
A portion of the snow plow force will be redirected to clear secondary residential streets after the initial clearing of the major roads. All crews will continue to circle throughout the Municipality after the snow fall has ended until all streets are clear.
Norristown is divided into four quadrants for the purposes of snow plowing: East, West, North and Central. The following equipment shall be allocated to each quadrant:
- East: 1 10-ton; 1 1-ton
- West: 1 10-ton; 1 1-ton
- North: 1 10-ton; 1 1-ton
- Central: 1 1-ton and 2 pickups
The East quadrant is bounded by Johnson Highway, the Plymouth line, Arch Street and Washington Street.
The West quadrant is bounded by Johnson Highway, Markley, Forrest Avenue and Washington Streets;
The North Quadrant is bounded by Johnson Highway, Arch, Markley and Fornance; and
The Central Quadrant is bounded by Fornance, Arch, Markley and Washington Streets.
Methods of Snow Clearance
Storms shall be classified as follows:
Amount of Snowfall Method of Road Maintenance
Class 1 Storm: 0 – 2 inches salt/cinder only. No plowing
Class 2 Storm: 2 - 6 inches salt/cinder and plow.
Drivers will widen each street as completely as possible before moving on to the next street. This will often involve two passes down each street before moving on to the next street. On narrow streets, particularly those with on-street parking, only one pass may be possible.
Drivers will use their judgment in widening streets. While it is optimal to open a street from curb to curb, it may not be necessary in all situations. Drivers must balance the need to widen the street against the possibility that cleared sidewalks will be covered.
Sidewalks
Muncipal sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours of the end of a snow storm. If there are insufficient numbers of Public Works employees to meet this standard, the Public Works Director may seek volunteers from other departments on an overtime basis to perform this work.
Throwing Snow into the Streets
Clearing snow from sidewalks or cars and throwing it into public streets is prohibited. When this behavior is observed by Public Works employees, they shall contact their supervisor who shall then contact the police for dispatch to the scene.
