Spring Valley Mayor Schenley Vital Discusses Snow Response, Pledges Improvements for the Future

By Yisroel R.

In a conversation with Rockland Daily, Village of Spring Valley Mayor Schenley Vital addressed the village’s delayed snow response following Sunday’s major storm, expressing regret over the disruption residents experienced while outlining steps aimed at improving preparedness and response in the future.

Mayor Vital said the storm exposed significant staffing and equipment limitations within the village’s Department of Public Works. According to the mayor, Spring Valley currently has only four drivers certified to operate large snowplow trucks, and much of the village’s snow equipment is between 15 and 20 years old.

The village began snow operations Sunday morning with four trucks in service, but within 12 to 16 hours, two trucks experienced mechanical failures. By Sunday evening, only two trucks and a pickup truck remained operational, and by Monday, just one plow truck was still functional.

As conditions worsened, Spring Valley reached out to the Town of Ramapo for assistance. Mayor Vital said Ramapo officials provided help with salting operations, and the village also contracted a private company to assist with snow hauling and removal. He expressed appreciation to Town of Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht and Highway Superintendent Fred Brinn for responding when help was requested.

Mayor Vital emphasized that DPW workers made extensive efforts despite limited resources. Crews worked more than 30 hours during the storm, while Spring Valley police assisted with traffic control to help crews operate safely. He stressed that the issue was not worker performance, but limited staffing levels and aging equipment that could not withstand a storm of this magnitude.

The mayor also pointed to Spring Valley’s unique density as an added challenge. With an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 residents living in roughly two square miles, there is little space to store snow along village streets, making snow hauling a critical part of storm response rather than simply pushing snow to the curb.

Mayor Vital said that as someone who is new on the job, he did not yet have the opportunity to fully prepare the village for a storm of this scale from an infrastructure and staffing standpoint. He said he understands the frustration residents felt and regrets the disruption caused by the delayed snow removal.

“I hear the residents, and I understand their concerns,” the mayor said. He added that he has been out in the community speaking directly with residents, acknowledging the inconvenience, and assuring them that their concerns are being taken seriously.

According to the mayor, Spring Valley’s DPW once had significantly more workers and equipment, including eight or more large snowplow trucks and a much larger staff. Today, the department has approximately 12 employees, with only four certified drivers. Mayor Vital said rebuilding staffing levels and upgrading equipment will be a priority as the village moves forward, and that future budgets will reflect the need to be better prepared for severe weather.

Mayor Vital said crews from the village along with additional crews provided by the Town of Ramapo are continuing to work through the night and expects approximately 85 to 90 percent of village roads to be in good condition by Wednesday morning, with additional cleanup to follow.

“We’ll learn from this, plan better, and do better going forward,” the mayor said.