Aurora council turns down request to increase snow removal service for remainder of winter

YorkRegion.com
Feb. 26, 2015
Teresa Latchford

Having received a large number of complaints regarding poor snow removal on Aurora streets this winter, Councillor Tom Mrakas proposed the town ramp up removal for the remainder of the winter but was turned down in a 6-2 vote.

“I don’t think residents mind paying for the service and they expect it,” he said.

Last fall, council made the decision to decrease service levels when it came to snow removal and sanding after a service review revealed the town’s snow removal costs were 17 per cent higher than other municipalities.

But Councillor Paul Pirri defended the decision the previous term of council made and said he would make the same decision today.

“We are faced with tough decisions,” he said. “I’m comfortable with leaving a little more snow on the road people have to drive over. We lowered service levels rather than raise taxes.”

Town staff confirmed reverting back to the previous service levels for the rest of the winter would result in extra costs due to the overtime that would be needed to do so.

Mayor Geoff Dawe pointed out that council just spent an hour discussing the hiring of a part-time employee for the rock climbing wall at the Aurora Family Leisure Complex that they nixed because they were worried about cost.

“I don’t see how we could go back without it costing us,” he added.

However, council members and staff did agree it would be well worth having a report presented to council on the impact the decrease in service levels had over the course of the winter as well as complaints received and they could review and discuss needs for next year.

This proposal was supported unanimously.