I received notice of a new township policy concerning the issue of snow removal that will affect township employees and residents alike.
I've been told that on Thursday, township administrators decided that township employees who will be plowing the snow from Middletown's streets during and after this current snow storm that we are experiencing , will not be allowed to work in excess of 16 hours per shift and must have 8 hours off before returning to work. Typically, those township employees that have been removing snow from the Middletown's main streets and neighborhoods have been allowed to work upwards to 24 hours straight without having to go home, in order to get township roads cleaned.
Township employees were notified of this change in policy late yesterday, before the storm hit. This will mean that it will take longer to remove the snow off the streets. It will also mean that people may be house bound a little longer this weekend than they would like.
There could be any number of reasons why this new policy was enacted. It could have something to due with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules pertaining to the amount of hours a person can work, where non emergency or nonessential personnel are prohibited from working more that 16 hours per shift or it could have to do with something else, like paying employees excessive overtime to plow the streets at a time when the township is still reeling from the after effects of Hurricane Sandy, trying to put a budget together with as little a tax increase as possible.
I wonder if this Blizzard of 2013 would have taken place earlier in the week, as opposed to the weekend, if Middletown would have enacted this new policy as they did or would the administrators have held off so that the roads could have been cleared as soon as possible, so that people could get to work.
I would think that if the Township was planning to limit the hours that its employees could spend plowing snow this year that they would come up with a plan that would ensure that plows stay on the street until the job of snow removal was complete, like having plowers work in 12 hour shifts. This way no one is over worked and plow trucks are kept on the roads without an 8 hour gap in between shifts.
I guess we'll just have to see how it works out.
***************
Update 5:40pm
I just want to give Kudos to those that cleared the streets earlier today. While to Blizzard of 2013 may not have been the event to everyone was expecting, it was still quite a storm and those that cleared the streets of snow (at least in my little neck of Middletown) did a yeoman jobs of moving it!
12 comments:
Thank the unions for this change. Those same unions that you and your crew so heavily endorse.
Good.
I don't want a sleep deprived person sitting behind the wheel of a 20 ton snow plow, especially when kids are off school.
Why aren't public employees in the public works department in this town considered essential services just as employees for public utilities are ?
Emergencies, like "blizzards and snow storms and hurricanes require working crews around the clock in shifts to provide essential services. The police do it,why not essential public works employees ?
Sometimes Middletown Township's government behaves as if it was the 1800's and part of the old "wild west" .In those days it was everyone for themselves and tough if you don't like it !
Seems somebody somewhere was short changed on common sense or gray matter....
Why do you see "evil plots" and "mismanagement" behind everything?
First off, how safe is it (not to mention legal) is it to have employees driving snow plows for 24 hours straight and more? There would seem to be a substantial risk of injury to employees in those circumstances, not to mention citizens.
But also, who said the plows would be idle for 8 hours? Does the town have more personnel or plow trucks?
Seems to me that there should be minimal disruption to snow clearing and yet added safety precautions.
I wonder what you'd be saying if the town was REQUIRING employees to work more than 16 hours straight? Yeah, we know, THEN you'd be on your soap box complaining about THAT?
But let them decide to protect employees safety...
What a parody of commentary this site has become.
I drove snow equipment for a major agency during many many snow storms, we worked 12 hours on 12 hours for as many as 8 days. If you think its easy try driving a plow for 1 hour never mind 16. What took the supervisors this long to realize that someone is going to get hurt. And yes I know of a case where a worker died from a heart attack because of the stress and long hours. Its blood money.
And as far as emergency employee status that could cost the town$$ in the long run when new contract time comes around. It has nothing to do with OSHA but with FLSA[ fair labor standards act] which regulates hrs worked.
They must have some sort of snow plan in place that put into motion at the first warning ,not sign, of snow.
In the past the town did a bad job but the past 3 years there has be a big improvement, I looked out my window at 7am and my street was plowed.
Anon at 9:08 a.m.
I just have to say that you provided a big chuckle for me with your post.
First you say "Emergencies, like "blizzards and snow storms and hurricanes require working crews around the clock in shifts to provide essential services..." which is, of course EXACTLY what they were doing - working in shifts.
Then you say: "Seems somebody somewhere was short changed on common sense or gray matter..."
Yup. You're right! Someone was...
LOL
The Township just hired 7 contractors to plow snow, paying them between $115-200/hr. The resolution was adopted just last month: http://cdn.gov-i.com/clients/28bd4cc0/files/000/024/248/original/d3c760338eb5c11d31cd1efd9f2311b1.pdf?1358535810 With all of theseextra plows on the road, streets will be cleared that much quicker. The goal is to clear the streets quickly, regardless of the cost. I saw one township plow today and it was not plowing snow. My neighborhood was plowed with a jeep that had an eight foot plow on the front.
Staff to accommodate the emergency situation. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that need . But of course there is no one in government in this town capable of that ????
Every police department and every public utility does it !!!
Legion, you are useless....
Anon at 9:17 -- "Staff to accommodate the emergency?"
Really, Gracie? Hire more staff than you need for everyday activities on the off chance that we will have a snow storm? Yeah, that's a good use of taxpayer dollars. LOL
And Anon at 7:46 -- Just what do you think having employees working 16 hours on and 8 off is if not a "staggered shift?"
I understand that you're blinded by the hatred you feel over constantly losing elections, but don't let that interfere with utilizing your capacity to think...
To all of you arm chair quarterbacks and second guessers call or even better send a registered letter to the dept of public works and ask for a copy of their snow plan. There must be something in writing outlining what and how they are going to deal with the snow. Ask things like;
1. Who drives,only drivers and laborers or all DPW workers?
2. How are the crews divided and set up.?
3. Is there a schedule, like a A crew or B crew or is everything decided that day.?
4. How much and what type of equipment is available for the storm?.
5. At what point does the call go out for contractors and who watches the contractor.?
6. What happens to the crew coming off , are they sent home or do they rest and sleep is some area in the DPW facility.?
7. Where do the workers eat ? There are very few places open during a full blown storm?
There are many more questions that have to be basked and answered.
These workers are out there in horrible weather doing things that you can't even think about about never mind doing them. This has nothing to do with politics , not to sound corny, they have pride in getting the job done.
So next time you see them doing their job a little smile and wave wouldn't hurt.
I should have said this in the first paragraph I am not a big fan nor do I work or have anybody working for the DPW. Like I said before they did a good job with this storm.
Hey LEGION,
WHAT the hell does planning and staffing to provide the NECESSARY help to plow and open our roads so people can go to work have to do with elections, win or
elections, NOT A THING.
Administration in this town has a legal OBLIGATION to provide those essential services. Stop playing on words and trying to turn everything into an argument or discourse about politics.
The news media does a good job forecasting weather conditions and advising preparedness. We do not need nor want "arrogant geniuses" like you spouting negative BS every time someone disagees with you about anything. As the saying goes...."a royal pain in the a$$"!
Common sense and proper planning can and should provide the essential services necessary for the taxpayers in this community....
Why do questions need to bwe asked about snow removal plans? This should all be available on the township website. Oh, most of it is at: http://www.middletownnj.org/content/snow-plowing.html
There is nothing stated about what employees do besides take direction from the area supervisor.
Post a Comment