Boston City Council Holds Hearing on Snow Removal Gaps, Corps, and Melter Purchase

BOSTON — March 3, 2026 — Boston City Council opens hearing on snow removal reforms, including a volunteer corps and snow melters. The Committee on City Services, chaired by Councilor Ed Flynn of District 2, convened March 3 to take testimony on three related dockets referred February 4, 2026: Docket 0270 on snow removal relief options, sponsored by Councilor Enrique Pepin; Docket 0291 on creating a Boston snow corps modeled on a New York City program, sponsored by Councilors Brian Worrell, Julia Mejia, and Pepin; and Docket 0292 on purchasing snow melters, sponsored by Flynn and Worrell. Pepin, who launched a neighborhood volunteer program called Pepin's Snow Angels that drew 39 sign-ups after the season's first storm, said the hearing was "about asking how we can build on what's working." Councilor Murphy said too many residents "felt stuck and unheard" and called for "a clear accounting of how decisions were made" on coordination, contracts, and equipment readiness. No votes were taken; administration and public testimony were scheduled to follow.