A busy winter in East Rockaway, Lynbrook
Weather affects snow budgets, school days
Nassau County’s South Shore has been pummeled with snow and ice since the calendar turned to 2014, and while residents deal with clearing their cars and sidewalks after winter storms, village governments and schools are charged with clearing roads and deciding if students attend classes.
But with a higher number of storms this winter than in recent years, how are schools and village governments managing their responsibilities?
The Village of Lynbrook has budgeted close to $95,000 for its snow removal costs, including overtime pay for Department of Public Works employees, salt and sand supplies and equipment repairs or replacements. As of Monday, Lynbrook has spent nearly $40,000 for snow removal this winter, about $30,000 of which spent on overtime costs. If there is money leftover from this fund, Village Administrator John Giordano said, it would go into a general surplus fund at the end of the fiscal year.
If the village were to exceed its budgeted snow removal funds, it would take money from a special contingency account that covers unforeseen expenses.
One problem that Lynbrook, and many other Long Island municipalities, had was a shortage of road salt. Giordano said the barges that usually ship the village’s salt supply were frozen and could not accept deliveries, therefore the village was running low. However, last Monday morning, Giordano said the village received a mini-delivery of 36 tons from its regular supplier, which should be an ample amount for the next few storms.
The new salt delivery gave the village about 10 or 11 truckloads worth, he said. As of Monday, Lynbrook was also still on a preferred list to get a salt delivery from Nassau County through the New York State Department of Transportation.
The Village of East Rockaway was facing a similar salt shortage, Department of Public Works Superintendent Kevin Conklin said, but last week the village was given 10 tons of salt from the state DOT through Nassau County.
“It’s been a busy year to say the very least,” he said.
