FEMA's Storm Aid Far Less Than Expected

FEMA's Storm Aid Far Less Than Expected
Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer
TEMPLETON  A string of balmy 80-degree days have reduced this year’s particularly harsh winter to all but the most distant memory. But many cities and towns across the state are finding themselves left out in the cold because Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursements, designed to help defray historic snow removal costs, have been reduced to a fraction of the early amounts.

This revelation has left already cash-strapped towns struggling to cover their snow and ice deficits — often in the $100,000 range — within their operating budgets.

“We were told that we were going to get a higher reimbursement from FEMA in Washington, which would be passed down to the state through MEMA,” interim Town Administrator Bob Markel told the Board of Select­men on Monday night. “As it turns out, the federal government authorized reimbursements for only the two days when we had the monster storm, and rather than getting $107,000, we’re getting significantly less.”

Gov. Charlie Baker initially requested reimbursements from FEMA to cover the entirety of February, declaring the entire month a disaster for the state. He is currently seeking to appeal the ruling, requesting that disaster period be extended from 48 hours during the late-January blizzard to 72 hours after the storm for snow removal efforts.

This year, the town ran up an unprecedented $110,000 snow and ice debt — most of which Mr. Markel anticipated covering with FEMA reimbursements. Instead, the administrator said the town may receive as little as $30,000 back. “We’re going to be underwater in the range of $90,000 in the snow and ice account,” he said.

There are three ways the town can address this debt, Mr. Markel said: carving it out of this year’s budget; covering it through the tax recap; or taking advantage of legislation put forward by the governor allowing the debt to be spread out over five years.

Following a series of recommendations made by the Advisory Board, which called for cuts to the Fire Department, building inspector and health agent salaries, and elimination of the tree warden budget line item, Mr. Markel said it was that board’s intention to bridge the deficit in the fiscal 2016 budget.

Selectmen were lukewarm on the idea of further cutting the already near-level funded budget, with member Diane Haley Brooks saying that reductions in public safety departments should be off the table entirely. Citing a recent incident in Chelsea where several children were seriously injured by a falling tree, she added that the tree warden position in particular should be preserved.

“We are not going to have a tree warden again this year, and I think that’s a mistake on our part,” she said.

Ms. Brooks also said that cutting revenue-producing departments, such as the building inspector and Board of Health, to fill the gap is unwise.

“Those two departments are cash cow departments,” Mr. Markel said in agreement. “The town’s economy seems to be emerging and there’s more permits for additions and modifications to homes.”

The board did not make a final decision on how to cover the snow and ice deficit, which will be discussed further in later meetings.