SOUTHWICK – The Department of Public Works is getting the town ready for spring.
Street sweeping activities of town roads is set to begin this week and will continue for approximately two to three weeks, weather permitting.
DPW Director Randy Brown said this year the town has a new contractor JR Sweeping out of Agawam.
“In the past, our contractor has started from the east side of town and worked west, but we have no way of knowing when they will be on specific streets,” Brown said.
Brown said he hopes there will be at least two sweepers out at a time.
The DPW has also been staying on top of roads this winter.
“We have been diligent about getting out and patching pot holes,” said Brown. “This week the asphalt plants should open so we can get hot mix and do ht patches throughout town.”
The Southwick Water Department also started water meter readings on March 23. The meter readings are expected to continue for the next six weeks.
Brown said all water department personnel are driving town-marked vehicles and are carrying town-issued ID badges. This could be the last time employees have to drive around town to read meters.
“We’re did a joint project to purchase a fixed meter network system with Westfield,” said Brown.
Town Meeting voters approved the purchase last spring, and Brown is hopeful it will be in place before the fall billing cycle.
“We will be able to read the meters right at the office,” said Brown. “The meter reading data will be brought into the billing data and a vendor will prepare the bills.”
The system will save money and time that DPW employees can spend on other tasks,
