2.55.690 Policy and procedures.
It is the town’s policy to remain open during most periods of inclement weather; however, if extraordinary circumstances arise due to weather or other unforeseen business interruptions that interfere with regular operations, services, or responsibilities assigned, or impact the health and safety of the public or town employees, the town reserves the right to temporarily close or limit operating hours of all town facilities.
(1) Facility Closures. When inclement weather or emergency conditions exist, the mayor in consultation with the clerk-treasurer and superintendent may declare an inclement weather emergency and close or limit operating hours of any town facilities or offices as necessary. In the event of an emergency in the absence of the mayor, the clerk-treasurer and public works superintendent are authorized to implement this policy and will notify the mayor accordingly.
(a) Notices. The town will announce its closure due to inclement weather as soon as possible following any decision to close or limit town operations. Employees affected by authorized changes in normal work hours or duties, such as closures, delays or shortened hours, will be notified by phone and/or email. Reasonable efforts will be made to post a notice on the town’s website and entrance door of the affected facilities, and a notice will also be sent to the Wahkiakum Eagle if the closure has a significant impact on operating hours.
(b) Personnel. Pursuant to CMC 2.55.130, all employees are subject to call back in emergencies and may be required to work when town operations are suspended and will be paid in accordance with Chapter 2.55 CMC. In absence of official notification of delays or closures, employees are expected to make reasonable efforts to arrive on time and notify their supervisor as soon as possible if they are unable to report to work.
(i) When the town determines conditions exist and a work location is nonoperational or inaccessible due to inclement weather or other emergency circumstances, the following will apply:
(A) Affected employees are expected to arrive and remain at work until the appointed closing time and will be released without loss of pay for those hours during the closure in which they would normally work and are currently scheduled to work. Pre-approved leaves occurring during a closure will be charged to accruals and employees working in unaffected locations are expected to work as normal.
(ii) When locations remain fully operational and an employee is unable to report to work or remain at work as directed, accruals will be charged in the following order: comp time, vacation, sick leave, floater, unpaid leave. Employees may request to use their floater or unpaid leave rather than vacation or sick leave.
(iii) Suspended operations will not exceed 15 calendar days without approval from the town council.
(2) Emergency Preparedness. To ensure worker safety and health, departments should plan ahead and be prepared for adverse conditions that may require on-call workers, special equipment, or in some cases, work stoppage or adjustments to regularly assigned duties.
(a) Preparations. In order to prepare for emergency events to the best extent possible, the public works department should:
(i) Monitor weather advisories during stormy or winter seasons (and call 211 for updates).
(ii) Ensure all town equipment and vehicles are accessible and ready for any weather.
(iii) Maintain sufficient salt/ice melt, snow shovels, and employee PPE.
(iv) Provide signs/cones to town facilities to warn of potentially hazardous floor conditions.
(v) Ensure backup measures and procedures are in place in case of treatment plant failure.
(vi) Ensure heating and fire protection systems are regularly serviced and/or winterized.
(b) Priority of Work. When an inclement weather emergency affects town-owned streets, and subject to equipment/staff availability, the town public works department shall monitor and prioritize the following activities:
(i) Primary.
(A) Clear any storm debris and/or snow and ice from walking surfaces and salt the entrances of town facilities: Town Hall, library, community center, fire hall, Butler Lot, and any ADA ramps.
(B) Clear any storm debris and/or compacted snow piles that obstruct ADA accessibility, the view of pedestrians or of traffic that is entering or leaving the premises of town facility parking lots.
(C) Clear any storm debris and/or compacted snow piles from storm drains and fire hydrants.
(D) Address any icy or hazardous condition on town streets, with priority to Columbia, River, Division, Una, and Broadway Streets, and any hazardous areas reported.
(E) Remove any buildup of icicles or frozen snow masses on roof overhangs, rain gutters, and overhead fixtures at town facilities that pose an obvious safety hazard.
(F) Contemporaneously inform the mayor of conditions and progress in listed activities and status of public works staff and equipment, along with changes in conditions (worse/better).
(ii) Secondary.
(A) Close outside recreation areas until free of ice and snow due to safety hazards, if necessary;
(iii) Other.
(A) WSDOT will plow snow on SR 4 and SR 409 due to the town’s lack of adequate snow plowing equipment in accordance with the State Highways Maintenance Guidelines for City Streets. (Res. 430 §§ 1, 2, 2023)