Item 42A

Authorize the Executive Office to increase the hourly rental rates for private contracted rental equipment for winter maintenance plowing and spreading of material by 15%. The Department continues to have difficulty competing with adjacent states, municipalities and private companies to attract CDL holders for Department Highway maintenance positions which has resulted in a driver shortage for state equipment. Coupled with this internal shortage, the Department has had similar difficulty in attracting private rental equipment with drivers to supplement the Department's internal shortage of staff. Their internal shortage of available CDL drivers with plowing experience only serves to heighten their need for recruiting and retaining sufficient contracted equipment. Failure to attract internal or rental resources to meet the snow removal needs will likely result in reduced plowing frequency which will translate into longer periods of degraded driving conditions and longer durations before highways are fully treated. The contract agreements will be set up on a five-year term. The funding is through the Highway Fund and Turnpike Fund GOVERNOR’S COMMISSION ON DISABILITY