Council sets Public Hearing, Special Town Meeting for Dec. 20 to Present Snowstorm Costs

It's not as bad as initially anticipated, but the town is going to need more than a half-million dollars more to continue a public works nightmare - cleaning up after winter storm Alfred.

And the Town Council on Tuesday set up a public hearing and special town meeting for Dec. 20 to discuss it.

The money - $562,000 - would come out of the General Fund balance.

On Nov. 3, the council approved $420,000 for emergency management and cleanup. An additional appropriation of $2,834,000 was approved on Nov. 15.

A public hearing is required because the town is no longer under emergency orders, Mayor George Apel said.

The initial estimate regarding an additional appropriation was $667,000. DPW Director Robert Kleinhans said the bids for grinding and hauling at Henry Park came in about $50,000 less than the estimated costs. Other savings were realized by using alternate hauling methods for brush dropped at the old Sports Plex property on Reservoir Road.

Alfred dropped heavy wet snow that began on Oct. 29 and lasted into the following day. It snapped both trees and branches for several hours.

Kleinhans said the storm produced about 94,000 cubic yards of brush.

He said the amount of brush collected could be stacked up 38 feel high over a football field.

The public hearing and town meeting is scheduled to take place during the regular council meeting.    

Town officials are pursuing federal aid for the cleanup expenses.