Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - As temperatures draw colder and the likelihood of snow arrives soon, there are questions about snow removal plans for the City of Buffalo. One member of the Buffalo Common Council says even if a plan is in place now, it may not matter when the first storm hits.
That's because North District Councilman Joe Golombek says the mayor's race is next week.
"We're going to have a new mayor, and we might have a whole new department," said Golombek in an interview with WBEN. "If that is the case, the snow removal plan may be for naught in many regards, because if you have new people that are coming in, they might have or see a completely different way of doing or needing snow removal in the City of Buffalo."
Golombek says each of the candidates has a different idea.
"One is talking about hiring. Well, in order to do many of the things that they want to do, it's going to mean that we're going to need to have more equipment and hire more employees. And the fiscal status of the City of Buffalo is just not going to allow that," Golombek explained.
He adds he'd like any plan to require mandatory overtime in Public Works for plow drivers in the event of a storm, but that has to be negotiated with the unions.
Another issue Golombek points to with any snow removal plan is one size won't fit all.
"I remember years ago, South Buffalo got socked. I think they had 3, 4, 5 feet of snow, and in my district, there was green grass. It's so difficult to put together a totally comprehensive plan, because you never know what kind of a storm you're going to get," Golombek said. "And you can't put together 100 different comprehensive plans for every potentiality that could occur."
Golombek feels it's possible the new mayor can simply scrap whatever is in the old plan, or decide to blame the previous administration if things get messy.
"I hope that whoever becomes mayor is simply able to put together an effective plan and follow it," Golombek said.
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