Selectman are planning for extra “dump days” and a possible town site for depositing brush as some ways to help residents dispose of their ice storm debris.
At their meeting Tuesday night, the selectmen agreed to add Thursday, Jan. 15, as an extra transfer station day to allow residents to offload trash and recyclables; they planned to post the hours for this extra day on a sandwich board in the town center. The selectmen acknowledged that the past few weeks at the transfer station have been difficult: residents have been eager to clean out trash from the ice storm, and the problem has been compounded by bad weather days and extra trash generated during the holidays. As a result, many residents in recent weeks have been frustrated to find that the transfer station has closed because the dumpsters have been full.
The selectmen also agreed that they would add extra transfer station days after Jan. 15 if there appears to be a need for them.
Brush removal from roadsides and private property is also a concern. Selectman Ron Ricci reported that some residents had requested early permission to burn brush but had been denied by the Fire Department, noting that most brush is still too green to burn efficiently this early in the season.
In the meantime, Town Administrator Tim Bragan reported that the town is exploring a range of options, including hiring crews to use chippers to break down the brush along the roadways. Bragan is also meeting with the Conservation Commission to see if residents would be allowed to use a town site as a “brush dump” for depositing branches and other natural debris.
Bragan added that on Jan. 14, he, along with DPW Director Rich Nota, Fire Chief Bob Mignard, Police Chief Ed Denmark, and Finance Director Lorraine Leonard, will meet with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials to find out what expenses will be eligible for reimbursement by the federal government. Earlier this week, President Bush authorized financial disaster aid for the Massachusetts communities hardest hit by the Dec. 11 ice storm. Gov. Deval Patrick had requested the disaster relief. The aid will be made available to Worcester, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Berkshire counties. Cities and towns, state agencies, and nonprofit groups can apply to be reimbursed for 75 percent of the cost of debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster, and repairing, replacing, or restoring damaged public infrastructure.
