DPW: Grounds
City of Somerville FY22 Budget
Core Function
To ensure the functionality and safety within the City of Somerville’s parks, playgrounds, dog parks, bike path, school yards, and green spaces. The Grounds Division maintains and services all city parks with daily duties including trash pickup and removal, recycling, equipment staging for events, flower and ornamental planning, mulching, spring and fall cleanups, Christmas light and holiday set up and breakdown, irrigation startup/winterization, and minor repairs.
New Division
The Buildings & Grounds Division is proposed to be split into two separate divisions for FY22. This change will allow DPW to better oversee the complexities of each function and better serve our community.
Personal Services Changes
Personal Services are proposed at $1.97 million for FY22.
The only change from level service is the creation of a new Tree Warden position to focus on our urban tree canopy and enhance the skills, training, and proactive capacity of the tree crew.
Changes in salaries are due to negotiated collective bargaining agreements and merit increases based on annual performance reviews.
Ordinary Maintenance Changes
Ordinary Maintenance costs are proposed at $730,000 to maintain our parks and playgrounds.
Major lines are for repair and maintenance, and supplies. The lines within the division have been budgeted based on past spending and projects scheduled for FY22.
FY22 Goals & Measures of Progress
Goal 1: Satisfy community gardener needs by working in conjunction to provide material resources.
- Amount of mulch, stone dust, and irrigation resources provided to the community gardeners.
Goal 2: Maintain parks equipment through replacement, upgrades, and painting of equipment.
- Replace several damaged slides, paint benches, and replace lumber and pressure treated boards.
Goal 3: Work with Public Space and Urban Forestry (PSUF) to establish proper maintenance practices and techniques in newly renovated parks.
- Establish a preventative maintenance program suitable for plantings and beds in new parks.
Goal 4: Increase efficiency within parks maintenance crews.
- Research whether specifying work zones and specific tasks for workers will maximize production and reduce travel time for crews.
FY22 Budget
