Hamden To Share Road Salt With Ansonia In Brokered Deal

HAMDEN, CT — Hamden will provide 32 tons of road salt to the town of Ansonia, State Senator Jorge Cabrera announced.

The agreement, brokered by Cabrera, involves Hamden supplying four truckloads of salt to Ansonia, which is facing a shortage for the current winter season. Ansonia has ordered additional salt but does not have a confirmed delivery date.

Ansonia plans to return an equal amount of road salt to Hamden at a later time. The salt provided by Hamden, totaling approximately 64,000 pounds, could treat three additional average snowstorms in Ansonia.

Ansonia covers 6.2 square miles and maintains 69 miles of roads. The standard application rate is about 300 pounds of salt per two-lane road mile.

Cabrera initiated discussions with Ansonia Mayor Frank Tyszka following a significant snowstorm in late January. Tyszka indicated a lack of sufficient salt for another storm, despite having more on order.

Cabrera then spoke with Hamden Mayor Adam Sendroff to arrange a "mutual-aid type situation," according to a news release.

"I did the same thing for Derby a couple of years ago," Cabrera said in the news release. "You've got to have salt in the winter, or the roads and sidewalks would be impassable. It's nice when neighboring towns can help each other out."

Sendroff said, "We have seen more snow and freezing temperatures this season than we have in the last decade. Everyone is struggling to find materials, and we are glad to be in a position to make this loan to Ansonia. Whenever municipalities can lend a hand to each other and keep Connecticut residents safe is a win. An added bonus is being able to help out another new mayor, because I know firsthand that his plate is full."