A Blackstone constituent recently wrote to Senator Moore about snow plows being operated during a storm that had non-plowable snow.  Justifiably, the constituent asked Senator Moore why money would be spent on an unnecessary cleanup.  Assuring the Constituent, Senator Moore followed up with the appropriate party at MassDOT.  Read the conversation below:

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From: A Blackstone Constituent
To: Senator Moore

Senator Moore:

Well I can't believe my eyes its 9:45 pm and I am watching (TWO PLOWS) on main st. rte 122 in Blackstone going by my house and plowing nothing.  There is about 1 in of snow on the ground I just cant believe it with the financial state the state is in. This isn't the first time this winter this has happened a while back they were plowing slush one night. I am beginning to wonder if plows are being called out by certain people just to charge the state money for hours plowed but there was never hardly ever any snow to plow. I always thought that the state would call out plows only if there was a certain amount of snow. I used to plow snow for the town of Blackstone and they wouldn't call us out till there was at least three to four inches. I think the only thing you need on this (main st rte 122) was salt. I think something or someone should look into this situation, plows being called out to plow snow and there is hardly any there to plow waste of MONEY. Thanks for your time

A Blackstone Constituent

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From: Senator Moore
To: Blackstone Constituent

Dear Blackstone Constituent:

Thanks for being the taxpayer's eyes and ears on waste by the state highway department. The state certainly doesn't have money to burn. I've asked my staff to contact District 3 to find out what was going on. There might have been a need for sanding, but not much snow to plow in that storm. I think there are a lot of "red faces" among weather forecasters who predicted a "big storm event", school superintendents who cancelled school, highway departments who geared up and called out plows for whatever minimum hours were included in contracts, etc. Of course, we'd be upset if they didn't take appropriate action or fail to properly maintain the public ways safely. Nevertheless, our agencies have to be more careful when snow and ice accounts are already over budget. I'll let you know what I find out from Mass DOT.

Senator Richard T. Moore

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From: Blackstone Constituent
To: Senator Moore

Well I am back. I just wrote to you in regards to the plowing on main st rte 122 Blackstone and at 10:45 another truck came by plowing (NOTHING). I just don't understand why the state has trucks out there plowing nothing, and to top it off the town hasn't plowed any of the streets in town someone should really look into this. I think I will contact channel four I team about it. Thanks

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From: Blackstone Constituent
To: Senator Moore

Well Senator Moore they are at it again plows going by main st rte 122 and again plowing nothing you can actually see the pavement and they are just wasting money out here. I have lived on main st for 10 yrs and this is an on going thing. this really should be looked into--ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you

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From: Senator Moore
To: Blackstone Constituent

Are the plows doing sanding? If there's no slush or snow on the road, I wouldn't think the plows would be down. Although, we've got about 3 inches in Uxbridge this morning so far.

Of course, if they are plowing when there's nothing to plow, I agree there's a problem. I am looking into the issue. If they are state plows or state contracted plows, I will ask what the policy is that allows such an apparently wasteful practice. If they are town of Blackstone plows, the Selectmen and Town Administrator are the people who would have to deal with the matter.

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From: Blackstone Constituent
To: Senator Moore

No the plows were down. I was in Dunkin Donuts and two plows came by--not state, around 2pm and they were plowing nothing. The town isn't even plowing this is really something to look into. Thanks