Tree limbs dangle precariously over many of Harvard’s roads, hazardous reminders of December’s ice storm. At their March 17 meeting, the Board of Selectmen discussed spending up to $40,000 to speed the removal of those “hangers.” Department of Public Works Director Rich Nota has obtained price quotes from four vendors for the job.
Although the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has made funds available for the cleanup of roadside debris, the agency has made no provision for dealing with the hanging branches, Chairman Leo Blair told the selectmen. He pointed out that the trees would soon begin to leaf out, concealing some of the broken limbs and adding dangerous weight to others. For safety’s sake, he said, prompt removal was essential.
As for the shattered tree trunks and branches that the storm left at ground level, the Army Corps of Engineers estimates that at least 2,000 cubic yards of debris line the town’s roads. Town officials have held three meetings with FEMA representatives, and the current estimate is that clearing the debris may cost $210,000. Under federal guidelines, the town could be reimbursed for 75 percent of the cleanup costs. Town Administrator Tim Bragan expects to have a plan “within a couple of weeks” to proceed with the cleanup, said Julie Doucet, executive assistant, earlier this week.
