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Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno speaks with reporters Monday morning following his meeting with other officials on the storm Juno preparations. The press conference was held at the Raymond Sullivan Safety Complex. (MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN)

(Mark M.Murray)

SPRINGFIELD - City officials said Springfield is expected to see nearly two feet of snow by tomorrow, and while plans are in place to continue essential city services, the volume of snow will almost certainly limit the city's ability to clear streets or to respond quickly to emergencies.

"The forecast is that this is going to be an epic one. There could be two feet of snow," Sarno said. This is going to be a long-duration storm. People will need to be patient.

Sarno met with several of his department heads, the police and fire departments, and representatives of area hospitals, emergency services and the Western Massachusetts Electric Company Monday morning at the Raymond J. Sullivan Public Safety Complex on Carew Street. The meeting was called to discuss contingencies and planned response in the event the storm turns out to be as bad as it is forecast.

In a briefing with the local press following the meeting, Sarno and other officials pledged that city services will cope as best they can but people need to be aware of the conditions.

Based on the latest forecast, Sarno said there could be four inches of snow beginning at 6 p.m. Monday, but between 1 a.m. and 10 a.m. Tuesday, there could be another 12 to 18 inches.

"There's going to be a lot of snow on the ground; don't be out travelling," said Chris Cignoli, the city Department of Public Works superintendent.

School has been cancelled for Tuesday. All athletic and afterschool programs planned for Monday afternoon are also cancelled.

City Hall will be closed and all employees except for emergency personnel may remain home. Sarno also appealed to private business owners to either close for the day or allow employees to work remotely from home is possible.

"It helps keep people off the roads this evening and tomorrow," he said.

The city parking ban was put into effect on Monday morning and city officials warned they will begin towing any violators.

Downtown parking garages operated by the Springfield Parking Authority will be open free of charge beginning at 6 p.m. for downtown residents who need a place to park their car. Parking will be free at least through Wednesday

All city library branches will close at 5 p.m. Monday instead of the regular 8 p.m. time.

Also all trash pickups planned for Tuesday will be cancelled. Cignoli said it may be rescheduled until Saturday but it has not been decided for sure.

City Health and Human Services Director Helen Caulton-Harris said the city is not activating its emergency shelter plan, but she said the department is ready to move if Sarno declares it is necessary.

Cignoli said the city has 15 plows of its own and 174 private plows under contract. Drivers are only allowed to work 16 hours at a time without a break. The number of plows on the road will need to be staggered to keep some on the road for the entire duration of the storm, he said.

"It will take 24 hours to after the snow stops to have the streets clean" he said.

Again, he asked people for their patience if their street is not plowed immediately.

"Unfortunately someone will be first and someone will be last.

A citywide parking ban was put in place Monday. Under the ban, no parking is permitted on the even side from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and on the odd side between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Cignoli said the city will tow any vehicles that ignore the ban. Any vehicles that ignore the ban, particularly in narrow residential streets, may result in streets being left unplowed.

"If it's a narrow street and cars are parked on each side, the plow may not be able to make it down it," he said.

Police Commissioner John Barbieri said police cars will work in conjunction with the DPW to respond to emergencies when needed. He advised people to call 911 only for real emergencies, and not routine calls.

"We'll be there when you need us," he said.

Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant asked that residents to help shovel out any nearby fire hydrants.

The city has close to 5,000 hydrants that will take time for the fire department to dig out after the storm. "If you can do your own hydrant, that would be much appreciated by the fire department," he said.

