Snow removal: follow-up with the administration

The Rockhill Tenant Collective (RTC) has reported several issues with the current snow removal service, particularly that the snow removal operator does not follow the established pathways, causing damage to the grounds around buildings A and B, as well as around the fountains. They also mention that the equipment used (a 6-foot plow) is too wide for the sidewalks (6 and a half feet), inevitably leading to overspill and damage.

Administration Response:
Mr. Contarini, the Regional Director for Montreal, explains that a specific department in Ottawa is responsible for service contracts, and warnings have been sent to the snow removal service provider. He also notes that, given the end of the snow season, changes to the service provider could only be considered for the following year, despite a 30-day notice clause in the contract.

It seems that some of the concerns were not known to Mr. Contarini or Mrs. Guttman, the Assistant Manager at Rockhill, both of whom expressed their intention to document the problems reported by the CLR, including taking photos of the damage.

Root Cause and Possibility of Resolution:
The main cause of the problems mentioned appears to be the choice of equipment used for snow removal and the manner in which the operation is performed. The RTC suggestion to use a narrower plow and to reposition the marker stakes to better guide the driver could represent viable solutions.

No specific resolution plan was formalized during this meeting. The administration wishes to clarify that any concrete action, including changing the service provider, seems postponed to the next year. No specific timeframe for implementing suggestions or improvements is given, and it appears there are no specific conditions regarding the quality of work and the responsibility for damages that would cause them to change providers, despite the RTC's exhortations.