By Harlan Levy
Journal Inquirer
WINDSOR LOCKS — If a town meeting approves the plan on Nov. 22, Ashbritt Inc., a Florida-based national disaster recovery contractor, will spend four to five weeks hauling away practically all of the town’s storm debris seven days a week for $1 million. Seventy-five percent of the expense is federally reimbursable, for a net cost to the town of $250,000.
A joint selectmen and Finance Board meeting Tuesday approved the deal, the most expensive of four options but the fastest. They rejected one option in which the 11-man town crew would take 10 to 12 weeks and which would cost $30,000 in overtime. Two others would take six to eight weeks and cost about $55,000 and $135,000 respectively.
In the unanimously selected option four, AshBritt, one of the two state-approved debris removal companies, would do it all, starting Nov. 28 and finishing by the end of December.
Time is of the essence, Public Works Director Scott Lappen told the two boards.
“There’s a huge safety concern because of the pile of brush on top of hydrants, utility boxes, and any buried structures,” Lappen said. “Kids have to walk out in the street to get around it.” Also, Lappen said, “We can get snow at any time … and these poor guys will have to work all night long, and they’re already exhausted.”
The disaster is not over yet, Selectman Joseph R. Calsetta said. “I don’t think we have any time to waste. I don’t think we can pussyfoot around or pinch pennies. I think we’ve got to get it done.”
The storm has taken its toll, Lappen said, mentioning that one of his 11 workers broke his elbow and sprained his wrist doing clean-up work. In addition, he said, the crews are behind in removing leaves from the parks before winter weather.
Following a tour of two streets with typical damage that Federal Emergency Management Agency officials took on the Monday after the storm, they estimated that the town had 42,000 cubic yards of debris.
“Since then, we’ve seen a huge increase in brush,” Lappen said.
To date, he said, his crews and town residents have taken 24,000 of the 63,000 cubic yard of debris to the Old County Road leaf compost site. That leaves an estimated 39,000 cubic yards. Lappen expects his crews to remove 8,000 in the next two weeks, so AshBritt will have 31,000 to go when it starts work on Nov. 28.
However, Selectman-elect Dennis Gragnolati said, there could be a lot more in people’s back yards.
“Many people haven’t finished bringing out their brush,” he told the boards.
If more than the $250,000 is needed, First Selectman Steven Wawruck said, the selectmen will ask the Finance Board for more.
“I don’t think this is the time to be conservative,” resident Douglas Hamilton told the boards, adding, “We should ask FEMA to take another tour (since) they only looked at two streets.”
Wawruck responded that he would ask FEMA today to reassess the damage. The results could affect the federal emergency declaration and federal aid.
By the end of December Lappen expects town overtime expenses will hit $50,000 to $60,000 regardless of which option the boards pick.
The town meeting to vote on the option is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the town’s leaf compost dump on Old County Road is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Now that the storm is over, the town needs to learn from the experience, Wawruck said. Therefore, he said, “We will hold a public hearing to discuss the good things and the bad things.” He’ll make that motion at the Nov. 29 meeting, he said, when the new board is sworn in.
In other business, the Board of Selectmen changed the Junk Car Removal Program’s two-week amnesty period for free vehicle disposal to Nov. 28 through Dec. 9. Previously it was from Nov. 14 to Nov. 30. Forms are available at Town Hall or at the Police Department. Participants are asked to provide title certificates.
At the meeting’s close, Wawruck turned to Calsetta, the four-term Democratic officeholder attending his last meeting after losing his seat last week to Gragnolati, a Republican.
“Words cannot express what you’ve done for the town over the last four terms,” Wawruck said, in thanking Calsetta for his long service.
“I’ve enjoyed it,” Calsetta responded. “I love this town.”
A joint selectmen and Finance Board meeting Tuesday approved the deal, the most expensive of four options but the fastest. They rejected one option in which the 11-man town crew would take 10 to 12 weeks and which would cost $30,000 in overtime. Two others would take six to eight weeks and cost about $55,000 and $135,000 respectively.
In the unanimously selected option four, AshBritt, one of the two state-approved debris removal companies, would do it all, starting Nov. 28 and finishing by the end of December.
Time is of the essence, Public Works Director Scott Lappen told the two boards.
The disaster is not over yet, Selectman Joseph R. Calsetta said. “I don’t think we have any time to waste. I don’t think we can pussyfoot around or pinch pennies. I think we’ve got to get it done.”
The storm has taken its toll, Lappen said, mentioning that one of his 11 workers broke his elbow and sprained his wrist doing clean-up work. In addition, he said, the crews are behind in removing leaves from the parks before winter weather.
Following a tour of two streets with typical damage that Federal Emergency Management Agency officials took on the Monday after the storm, they estimated that the town had 42,000 cubic yards of debris.
“Since then, we’ve seen a huge increase in brush,” Lappen said.
To date, he said, his crews and town residents have taken 24,000 of the 63,000 cubic yard of debris to the Old County Road leaf compost site. That leaves an estimated 39,000 cubic yards. Lappen expects his crews to remove 8,000 in the next two weeks, so AshBritt will have 31,000 to go when it starts work on Nov. 28.
However, Selectman-elect Dennis Gragnolati said, there could be a lot more in people’s back yards.
“Many people haven’t finished bringing out their brush,” he told the boards.
If more than the $250,000 is needed, First Selectman Steven Wawruck said, the selectmen will ask the Finance Board for more.
“I don’t think this is the time to be conservative,” resident Douglas Hamilton told the boards, adding, “We should ask FEMA to take another tour (since) they only looked at two streets.”
Wawruck responded that he would ask FEMA today to reassess the damage. The results could affect the federal emergency declaration and federal aid.
By the end of December Lappen expects town overtime expenses will hit $50,000 to $60,000 regardless of which option the boards pick.
The town meeting to vote on the option is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the town’s leaf compost dump on Old County Road is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Now that the storm is over, the town needs to learn from the experience, Wawruck said. Therefore, he said, “We will hold a public hearing to discuss the good things and the bad things.” He’ll make that motion at the Nov. 29 meeting, he said, when the new board is sworn in.
In other business, the Board of Selectmen changed the Junk Car Removal Program’s two-week amnesty period for free vehicle disposal to Nov. 28 through Dec. 9. Previously it was from Nov. 14 to Nov. 30. Forms are available at Town Hall or at the Police Department. Participants are asked to provide title certificates.
At the meeting’s close, Wawruck turned to Calsetta, the four-term Democratic officeholder attending his last meeting after losing his seat last week to Gragnolati, a Republican.
“Words cannot express what you’ve done for the town over the last four terms,” Wawruck said, in thanking Calsetta for his long service.
“I’ve enjoyed it,” Calsetta responded. “I love this town.”
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