CLARKSBURG -- With all but one Tropical Storm Irene-related repair project complete, the town now has to determine how it will pay its share of an approximately $245,000 bill.
Town Administrator Michael Canales said Thursday that while the Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse the town 75 percent of the repair costs, the town will still have to come up with at least 25 percent.
In the case of one project involving the stabilization and repair of the river bank behind Cascade School Supply, the Natural Resources Conservation Service will pay the 75 percent, he said.
"We haven't decided how we will pay the rest," Canales said. "We'll have to look at free cash, stabilization and the tax rate -- however Town Meeting decides to pay the town's share."
He added that it's currently undecided if Clarksburg will pay the full 25 percent or 12.5 percent, depending on if the state decides to chip in. The maximum amount Clarksburg would have to pay for Irene related repairs is $61,250.
Clarksburg's fiscal 2012 budget was about $3.39 million with approximately $1.03 million going to the town and approximately $2.36 million going to the school district.
Canales said the work behind Cascade School Supply on River Road cost almost $100,000, while repairs to Daniels Road came in at $109,000 and Henderson Road work cost $26,000. There was also $8,000 to $10,000 spent on fire and police during the storm, he
The repair work of River Road (Route 8), which was washed out during Tropical Storm Irene, was completed and funded by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
The one project that has yet to be completed is replacing the East Road bridge, which became structurally unsound during Tropical Storm Irene, he said. East Road has been closed since the storm on Aug. 28.
Town officials knew before the storm that within 10 years, the bridge would possibly have to be replaced, and work had begun on the design plans to replace it with a box culvert, he said.
"Due to the fact we had already been targeting East Road, it cannot be considered by FEMA for funding, but that decision can be appealed," he said.
He will ask the Selectmen at their meeting Wednesday if the board wants to appeal the decision, he said.
To reach Meghan Foley,
email mfoley@thetranscript.com.
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