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253 <br /> <br />As there were no speakers the public hearing was closed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Barnes requested that Ms. Mueller address the <br />concerns expressed by Mr. Colley. <br /> <br /> Ms. Mueller stated that most private contractors are <br />under contract with the University of Virginia or private <br />shopping centers for snow removal and that it was thought <br />that it would be expensive and unfair for the City to <br />compete for the contractors. Ms. Mueller stated that it was <br />recommended that private contractors be used only to <br />supplement existing staff. Ms. Mueller stated that calcium <br />chloride was very expensive, that no storage facility existed <br />for it, and that it is corrosive to equipment, leather, and <br />carpeting. Ms. Mueller stated that experience did not show <br />that steel-tipped blades were more effective than rubber- <br />tipped blades. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Towe regarding <br />circumstances in other comparable cities, Ms. Mueller stated <br />that staff had found that most had been in a similar <br />situation during the major snow storms. Ms. Mueller <br />stressed that in order to make a dramatic difference in snow <br />removal operations, a dramatic increase in resources would be <br />necessary. <br /> <br /> Mr. Buck stated that he felt priority should be given to <br />widening the primary routes, agreed that clearing major <br />school bus routes would be beneficial and stated that he felt <br />staff should further study the problem of snow piling up at <br />intersections. <br /> <br /> Ms. Mueller stated that staff will address the problems <br />at the intersections and that the City will plan to expand <br />snow removal operations to include manpower in other <br />departments. <br /> <br /> Mr. Buck stated that he would not be in favor of <br />dramatically increasing funding for snow removal operations <br />given the other difficult budgeting decisions unless there is <br />a significant change in the weather patterns. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix stated that criticism had been expressed <br />about clearing snow from the downtown mall, but the mall is a <br />fire lane which had to be cleared. <br /> <br /> Mr. Towe questioned whether plows could be installed on <br />trash collection equipment. <br /> <br /> Ms. Mueller noted that only two days of trash collection <br />were lost during the severe snow storms, but stated that <br />trash collection could be suspended and plows could be <br />installed on some of the equipment. <br /> <br /> On motion by Mrs. Gleason, seconded by Mr. Towe, Council <br />unanimously approved the recommendations of the staff <br />concerning snow removal. <br /> <br /> Mr. Buck requested that staff clarify the <br />recommendations dealing with clearing two lanes for major <br />highways. <br /> <br />STAFF REPORT: SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix stated that employee concerns with <br />sections of the proposed substance abuse policy had <br />been addressed in the amended policy. <br /> <br /> Mr. Gary O'Connell, Deputy City Manager, listed the <br />following changes proposed for the substance abuse policy: <br />1) remove the reference to traffic and civil charges, <br />2) reword the section dealing with work related accidents, <br />and 3) minor revision in the list of public safety employees. <br /> <br /> <br />