Melrosians Reporting Potholes, Graffiti Using Mobile App

About 50 incidents have been reported using the new cell phone app, according to the Melrose Department of Public Works.

Thanks to a new mobile app that allows residents to report potholes, graffiti and other DPW-related issues, the city of Melrose has received and tended to about 50 reports since the program launched just over a month ago. "We haven't had that many hits on it yet, but we've had about 50 so far and many of them have been from the same people," said Ann Waitt, business manager for the DPW. "Potholes and graffiti are no problem to do," she said, but requests for street paving have not been done so far. Most of the calls have been about potholes and one user made eight reports about one graffiti incident, according to Waitt. Some of the issues reported were not actually DPW related but rather police items so the calls were directed to Police …

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Melrose DPW Styrofoam Recycling Day

The styrofoam recycling day is slated for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16 at the City Yard, 72 Tremont St.

Report Potholes, Graffiti Using City's New Mobile App

The city of Melrose recently launched a new mobil app that will allow residents to report potholes, graffiti and other DPW-related issues.

The city of Melrose recently launched a new mobil app that will allow residents to report potholes, graffiti and other DPW-related issues. The Commonwealth Connect mobile app, powered by SeeClickFix, is free and available for downloading for both iphones and android phones, according to a city press statement. The app is available on the SeeClickFix website. “This is another tool for residents to enhance two way communication with city officials,” said Mayor Rob Dolan in the statement. “The grant, fully funded by the state, allowed the City to implement the smart phone app for residents to immediately report issues such as potholes, missed trash and recycling, and graffiti. This may not be for everyone but I think it will become a popular …

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Kathy Platcow

8:09 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013

This app is a great tool for Melrose residents.   more ›

Melrose's $500K Snow Budget Has Been Spent

The Melrose Department of Public Works's snow budget of $500,000 has already been spent this winter, according to Director John Scenna.

The Melrose Department of Public Works's snow budget of $500,000 has already been spent this winter, according to Director John Scenna. When the blizzard dumped a few feet of snow on the city in February, it was a costly storm to tackle, and the DPW is running a snow budget deficit of about $100,000 to $120,000 as a result, according to Scenna. "We've just gone into deficit on our $500,000 snow budget," Scenna said. "The blizzard definitely put us over the $500,000 mark for the year. We probably had $170,000 to $180,000 in expenditures going into the blizzard. The blizzard cost us around $315,000.  While the DPW has had to spend more than its budget $500,000 this winter, the department had a surplus last year, according to Scenna. The …

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Myron Dittmer

10:11 am on Sunday, February 24, 2013

You can certainly fault the Mayor on some things but budgeting and predicting snowfall for a winter season is not one of them. Mother nature is unpredictable and predicting snowfall is not an exact science so why hold budgeting for such events to such scrutiny? It doesn't pass the smell test of your issue ...sounds like you have some other issues that bother you about the Mayor. Perhaps those are…   more ›

Mixed Reviews About Melrose's Plowing Efforts During Blizzard

Readers discuss plowing efforts by city during blizzard of 2013.

After putting the question to you, our readers, about Melrose's job plowing city streets during the blizzard of 2013, reviews were mixed. Good Work By Melrose DPW A handful of readers were positive on the job done by the Melrose Department of Public Works to clear snow from city streets. Reader Laurie W wrote, "I was impressed by the DPW plowing nonstop all weekend, and have seen them come back through to widen streets as recently as last night. I work in Boston and have driven through neighboring communities during my commute. In terms of our major thoroughfares I strongly believe Melrose DPW did a great job compared to other communities." Fellow reader mdonahue agreed with Laurie W's take, adding, "...Our DPW should be applauded for the …

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Dolan: No Emergency Parking Ban in Melrose

Mayor Rob Dolan said there is no parking ban in place in Melrose following Sunday's snowstorm, but asked drivers to stay off the roads if possible.

Mayor Rob Dolan said there is no parking ban in place in Melrose following Sunday's snowstorm, according to a city press statement. City sanders started work on the roads at 5 a.m. Sunday, according to Dolan. "(We were) hoping that we could manage this storm with salt and treatment. We gave it our best shot, but we need more," Dolan said in the statement. "At 9:30 (a.m.) we called all the plows in service, and we are plowing (Sunday). "Please be careful, as the roads are very slippery. There is no parking ban, but if you could help us by keeping your cars in your driveway as much as possible to allow for better plowing, that would be appreciated." Does your road need plowing following Sunday's snowstorm? Let us know by posting a comment …

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How Would You Rate Melrose’s Plowing During the Blizzard of 2013?

Are you satisfied or frustrated with how Melrose handled the area’s 5th largest snowstorm in history? Let us know by posting a comment below.

Now that the snow has fallen, and started to melt, it’s your time to rate how Melrose’s plows handled the more than two feet of snow that fell Friday and Saturday. Feel free to give praise or thanks, express frustrations or offer up constructive criticism in the comments below, and keep in mind, the blizzard was the 5th largest snowstorm in New England history. Melrose Storm Center PHOTOS: Blizzard of 2013 in Melrose

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Celeste

6:24 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013

Yes DJ it was pretty much plowed by thursday the 14th when you posted.   more ›

Melrose Public Schools, St. Mary's School Canceled Monday

There will be no school on Monday for Melrose Public Schools, according to a city press statement. St. Mary's will also be closed on Monday, according to the WHDH website.

There will be no school on Monday for Melrose Public Schools, according to a city press statement. St. Mary of the Annunciation School will also be closed on Monday, according to the WHDH website. "Because of the high volume of snow due to this weekend’s storm, Superintendent of Schools Cyndy Taymore and I have decided to cancel school on Monday," Mayor Rob Dolan said in the statement, adding that the decision is for safety reasons and also to give parents time to make child care arrangements for Monday. "All of our schools are in small, tight residential neighborhoods, where the streets are narrow and the schools are surrounded by critical intersections: Ruggles at Howard, Ashcroft at Upham, Glendower at Whitman, Everett Street," Dolan …

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Melrose DPW Tackling Post-Blizzard Problems

The Melrose Department of Public Works is addressing a couple significant post-blizzard issues, including a water main break near Upham and Rowe Streets.

The Melrose Department of Public Works is tackling a couple significant post-blizzard issues, including a water main break near Upham and Rowe Streets, according to a city press statement. "There is a major water main break at Upham and Rowe (Streets)," reads the statement issued at about 6 p.m. Saturday. "Some DPW staff is being diverted to that water main break." DPW crews could be seen at work on the water main break at roughly 2:30 p.m. Saturday. "National Grid marked the street (with) orange paint. The DPW dug up the street (with) a jack hammer (and) backhoe," said Melrosian Karen Willis in an email to Melrose Patch, who observed the work being done by DPW. "They then jumped in the hole and dug up some more dirt (with) a shovel; …

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Melrose DPW Gears Up For Blizzard on Friday

The Melrose Department of Public Works is preparing for a potentially historic blizzard expected to hit the city on Friday.

The Melrose Department of Public Works is preparing for a potentially historic blizzard expected to hit the city on Friday. As of Wednesday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a Blizzard Watch for Middlesex County and much of Massachusetts from Friday morning through Saturday afternoon. The Melrose area is expected to receive 18 to 24 inches of snow during the blizzard, according to the NWS forecast. Melrose DPW Director John Scenna and his team are gearing up in anticipation for blizzard-like conditions. "We spend the majority of our winter season preparing for worst case situations. Based on forecasts, this appears to be one of these events," Scenna said in an email to Melrose Patch. "Preparation is key in these types of …

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