Winter Maintenance Plan & Policy

I. Purpose

The Waitsfield Board of Selectmen hereby establish this Winter Operations Plan and Policy to clearly state priorities for the clearing, maintenance, and repair of Town-owned roads by the Town's 3-person Road Department to ensure the safe and efficient passage of vehicles and goods through the town during the period of time between November 15 and April 30 of each year.

II. Plowing

1. First priority for plowing will be to open the major traffic and school bus routes first. This includes the following Town roads:

Common Road East Warren Road North Road Joslin Hill Road Brook Road

Brook Road East Road Long Road Tremblay Road

2. After those major routes are cleared, the second priority for plowing will be the remainder of the roads at the discretion of the Road Foreman.

3. The Town will enforce the No Parking restrictions, as outlined in Article VII of the Town of Waitsfield Traffic Ordinance, including places where plow trucks or school buses turn around during all winter weather events when the plows are on the roads.

4. The Town of Waitsfield has only three (3) employees to do winter maintenance on approximately 30 miles of Town Highways. Each employee has a specific route, which takes approximately 4 hours to complete. These routes may vary for emergency situations (e.g. fire, ambulance).

5. The Town does not plow private roads or private driveways.

III. Use of Salt and Sand

1. The Town of Waitsfield does not have a black (bare) road policy. Travelers who use Town roads should exercise due care and reasonable caution during changing winter weather conditions.

2. Salt will be applied to most paved roads with a minimum amount of sand added as necessary. Salt is not effective when road temperatures are below 20 degrees.

3. Sand will be applied to the gravel roads. With the use of sand in winter maintenance material, some particles may be as large as ¾" in size and may cause windshield damage. Travelers should use caution and avoid following other vehicles or Town trucks too closely. The Town will not pay for any vehicle repair, such as replacement of windshields.

IV. General Provisions

1. The Town of Waitsfield will maintain Class 4 Roads at the discretion of the Selectboard and may allow private maintenance agreements.

2. Maintenance operations during winter storm events shall begin at approximately 4:00 a.m. and continue until routes are cleared. After 16 hours on the job, Road Department personnel are required to stop operations and take a minimum of six (6) hours of rest.

3. In most cases, such as a major snowstorm, there will be no winter maintenance between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.

4. Under Title 19, Section 111 "Prohibits Encroachments of the Towns Right-of-Way Without Approval," objects in the Towns right-of-way are placed at the owners' risk and the Town assumes no responsibility for any damage to objects placed in violation of the state statutes. Common items are trees, fences, flowers, stone walls etc. placed in the Town's Right-of-Way.

5. The Town cannot take responsibility for damage to mailboxes.

6. State law prohibits plowing, blowing, or shoveling of snow across or onto a Town or State highway. Violators may be subject to a fine or penalty and may also be liable for damage to property, vehicles, and any undue cost to the Town for removal of this snow. In addition, the actual cost for the specific equipment and manpower used to remove this snow may be charged to the private property owner, with a minimum charge of one hour per Road Department personnel and equipment.

DATED at Waitsfield, Vermont, 26th this day of November, 2007.

WAITSFIELD SELECTBOARD
/s/ Elwin A. Neill, Jr., Chairman
/s/ Charles Hosford
/s/ J. LeRoy Hadden, D.V.M.
/s/ Paul Hartshorn
/s/ Salvatore Spinosa