Hoping for better results, Woolwich has turned over sidewalk snow-clearing duties to a new company for the next three years.
Since being introduced in Elmira eight years ago, the program has generated a slew of complaints, with residents upset about the timeliness and quality of service during the winter months and about the damage to their lawns that becomes visible in the spring.
In picking a new contractor – Mitchell Property Maintenance – director of engineering and planning Dan Kennaley said the township has “higher expectations” about the level of service starting this season.
The company’s bid was not the lowest of four received, but its experience and equipment best met Woolwich’s criteria, he told councillors meeting Oct. 30.
“We’ve receive a large number of complaints in the past. We wanted to try to improve that situation.”
The township budgets $70,000 a year for the service, but the actual amount charged depends on the rolling surplus of funds in the account. Last year, for instance, some $46,000 was billed. The fund is in a surplus position again in 2012, thanks in part to the mild winter, though there’s still two months to go.
The program is paid for by a special levy on Elmira homeowners. Under the previous contract, that amounted to about $14.56 based on an average home assessed at $254,000. That annual amount will rise to $17.07 based on the terms of the new deal, said director of finance Richard Petherick.
In voting for the new contract, Coun. Bonnie Bryant said she likes the fact that annual performance reviews mean the contractor can be fired if they’re not working out.
