Framingham DPW Director Questioned Over 2020 Leaf Pickup

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham Public Works Director Blake Lukis appeared before City Council Tuesday night and answered questions about why the city's 2020 leaf pickup appears to be troubled.

The budget for leaf and brush collection was cut this year, which Lukis told Councilors was a decision made between him and Mayor Yvonne Spicer in April. The 2020 leaf collection budget was reduced from $100,000 to $70,000 this year, and brush collection from $60,000 to $40,000.

And in past years, both the leaf and brush pickup periods have cost more than what was budgeted.

"Even if we had a level-funded budget, we would've been in a situation where we were under-funded," Lukis told Councilors.

Budgets were cut by Spicer last spring in anticipation of revenue shortfalls due to the coronavirus pandemic. Multiple employees were either laid off or furloughed in DPW last spring as well. Following Spicer's cuts, the City Council Finance Subcommittee asked each department to cut 10 percent more from budgets.

Lukis also told the Councilors that leaf collection, which began on Nov. 16, is about 1-1/2 days behind schedule. He said DPW crews should catch up on Wednesday, which is typically a lighter day.

The city uses its own trucks and personnel to pick up leaves and brush, but also has to hire contractors. Framingham pays about $170 per hour to rent a truck and a driver, and there are two roaming city neighborhoods.

This year's leaf collection will run until Nov. 28, and brush will be collected Nov. 30 to Dec. 4. Residents with recycling stickers can bring leaves and brush to the Dudley Road collection center, but there have been long lines recently. DPW had to hire an extra police officer to handle the traffic over the weekend, Lukis said.