Snowplowing Discussion Yields Understanding

ERIE COUNTY, NY— Today, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz was joined by Town of Boston Supervisor Martin Ballowe for a face-to-face discussion and review of current snowplowing practices on Erie County roads in the Town of Boston. The Town terminated their snowplowing agreement with Erie County in October 2014. As a result of the Town’s termination, Erie County reached agreements with neighboring municipalities to help cover plowing roads for the 2014-15 winter season.

Poloncarz, accompanied by representatives from the Erie County Departments of Law and Public Works, outlined the measures that Erie County has taken to maintain public safety and ensure Town roads are plowed. Supervisor Ballowe was joined at the meeting by the Town’s attorney, Michael Kobiolka.

“The discussion with Supervisor Ballowe was frank, open, and allowed us to discuss this issue face-to-face, rather than through the media. He indicated that they were amenable to the county continuing to plow the roads in the Town for the remainder of the year, which was refreshing to hear. I appreciate him coming here to talk and feel that we reached an understanding and will be able to work together moving forward,” said Poloncarz. “We discussed some potential modifications to plow routes in the Town, which we will consider. The county and Town officials agreed that the county will plow the roads for the remainder of the 2014-15 winter season and the parties will not enter into a new contract for this season. The possibility of a new contract for next year was discussed and will be considered in the future. At least for the remainder of this season, the agreements Erie County reached with neighboring municipalities to help with plowing coverage for the roads in Boston will remain in place.”

Following the town’s termination of the snowplowing contract, Erie County secured agreements with the Towns of Aurora, Collins, and Eden to reconfigure plow routes in order to cover the 35 miles of county roads in the Town of Boston.

For more information:

On the Erie County Department of Public Works, visit   http://www2.erie.gov/dpw/