Public works

The public works department in each borough is responsible for maintenance and operations related to sewers, water systems, the road network, snow removal, municipal buildings, street lighting, landscaping, public-tree management, and waste management. Public works issues are therefore wide-ranging. Here are some examples of matters we can address: 

• Water and sewer systems: cases involving water leaks, frozen or thawing pipes, water accumulation, connecting or disconnecting a municipal line, maintenance and repair of a sump pit, etc.;
• Roadways and sidewalks: maintenance and repair of streets or sidewalks (repaving, pothole filling, marking, signage, vibrations, etc.); 
• Snow removal: the quality of snow removal operations, snow loading, or the spreading of abrasives; 
• Lighting: maintenance of public lighting; 
• Waste: collection (household trash, recyclables, food waste, yard waste, bulky items); 
• Street furniture: maintenance of benches, trash cans, bike racks, etc.; 
• Cleanliness: maintenance of public or private property.

Here are some concrete examples of improvements achieved as a result of our investigations: 

• Regularizing recyclable waste collection following repeated reports of missed collection runs;
• Completing work to address water accumulation in front of a residence;
• Requiring more regular inspections and actions regarding a business’s waste management in order to improve premises maintenance and cleanliness.