A motion to review Hanover’ Winter Maintenance and Sidewalk policy has been defeated.
Councilor Brandon Koebel believes his motion had real merit.
He wanted the Town to review the Winter Maintenance of Roads and Sidewalks Policy to see if it is in need of updating and enhancement.
Koebel says while Hanover plow operators do a great job, the current policy restricts when plows are allowed on the roadways. (does not include sanders)
Under the policy, Koebel says plows only operate if there is 8 cm of snow before 7 am, if the snow comes after 7 am he says the plows will not operate until the next morning.
Koebel says this means Hanover is following the minimum maintenance standards, something he believes should be reviewed.
He adds weather patterns are changing and there are times when it would be of great benefit to have the plows out during the day.
Deputy Mayor Selwyn Hicks however believes the policy is working and adds that it was just reviewed last year.
Hicks notes that having the plows out during the day could create a new problem.
In Hanover there is a pattern that the plow comes by in the morning and once it does most snow operators and residents clear their driveways.
If the policy were to change, Hicks says it could mean the plows will end up filling in driveways during the work day which may be not be popular among residents.
Even so, Koebel believes there is a need for monitoring and updating the policy that incorporates both staff and community feedback to provide a basis for continuous improvement of winter maintenance in Hanover.
Koebel is disappointed by the outcome of the Council vote, adding it would have been helpful to learn how other small urban town’s like Hanover handle their winter maintenance.