Dear WeCAN Members,

 

As Christmas is just a day away and the New Year is just around the corner, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for a great year of ideas, suggestions and concerns.  We, as a City and a Community, look forward to 2011 and the opportunities which it will provide.
 
As all of you are aware the Winter Season officially started on Wednesday, however the previous snow events must have not gotten the memo.  Regardless, the City of Westfield Public Works Department has been doing a great job maintaining our City Streets.  I have also personally seen some concerns that I would like to share with all of you.
 
Specifically, the concerns consist of snow being blown, plowed, or pushed into the street by residents or contractors after the streets have been cleared by the City or private contractors.   Not only does this snow that has been deposited in the streets that have been cleared of snow look bad, it can cause a safety hazard for pedestrians and motorists traveling the streets. Below is a list of recommendations that would assist the City in the removal of snow but also keep our streets looking good after they have been plowed.
 
Recommendations:
- Remove vehicles, trailers, trash cans, or other items from the streets during snow events to make it more efficient for the snow plowing crews to clear the streets and plow the snow from curb to curb.
- During and after snow events reduce travel to aid in keeping the streets clear of traffic and compacting the snow on the roads and in subdivisions.
- Remove snow from vehicles prior to starting your journey.  Snow left on vehicles slides off at stop signs which is typically at subdivision entrances and intersections causing these areas to become slick.
- Be patient, not only in waiting for crews to remove the snow from street but also in your driving behavior.  The City Crews have to deal with various factors such as the quantity of snow, duration of the event, temperature fluctuations, the density of the snow, and wind that can either assist or hinder the efficiency in removing the snow from City streets.
 
I want to thank you in advance for considering these recommendations and for sharing them with our residents.
 
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
 
Mayor J. Andrew Cook