Winter storm clean-up expensive for City of Utica DPW

By By EVAN WHITE

Story Created: Dec 22, 2008 at 7:16 PM EST

Story Updated: Dec 22, 2008 at 7:16 PM EST

UTICA N.Y. (WKTV) - A slew of winter storms left more than a cold, slushy mix. They also left a hefty price tag for the City. Utica's Department of Public Works burned through 1,503 hours of overtime between December 17th through the 21st.

Storms on the 17th, 19th and 21st dumped 19.4'' of snow in Utica. That snow translated into $36,809.65 in wages for the 59 employees working during the four day stretch.

DPW Commissioner Richard Conte says it is not uncommon to pay overtime each week, but not this much. "You might see a storm a week especially in dec we have been hit with a lot more than normal in December," said Conte.

He went on to say that prior to these recent storms, DPW was well ahead of last year's overtime budget, but now the department is near level with 2007 numbers.

Conte is watching overtime carefully but says when storms call for it, the department must use all of its manpower to clean local roads.

We called or visited similar departments in Deerfield, New Hartford, and Whitestown to check overtime hours and wages. None were available or returned our calls.
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