Storms Could Cost Middlefield $250K, Officials Say

The estimated combined cost of cleaning up from Tropical Storm Irene and October's rare nor'easter could top $250,000, according to Middlefield officials.

The amount -- an early estimate because officials are still collecting the expenses incurred as a result of the Oct. 29 snowstorm -- includes an estimated $168,000 for brush removal from last month's storm alone.

"If all goes well, and we're optimistic, we will be reimbursed from FEMA and it's not that we will be made whole, but we should be reasonably close," said First Selectman Jon Brayshaw.

With President Obama's Thursday, Middlefield could receive up to 75 percent reimbursement for storm related costs, but would likely be on the hook for the remaning 25 percent which at times has been paid for by the state.

"The state is in worse shape than we are," said emergency management director Terry Parmelee, who joined Brayshaw in a meeting with the Board of Finance Thursday night.

While the town has already paid for most of the storm costs related to Irene -- $58,000 according to Parmelee (75 percent of which is expected to be reimbursed by FEMA) -- paying for last month's freak snowstorm is proving to be more of a challenge.

The town's contingency fund currently has a little less than $50,000 in it, far less than what might be necessary to pay for the storm, according to chairman Rebecca Adams.

As a result, the finance board approved a plan to create a new line item to fund storm related costs. Exactly how much will go into that line item has yet to be determined, and the transfer will require a town meeting, the date of which has yet to be set.

"The bottom line is some of the costs are beginning to come in. We don't have all the answers tonight," Brayshaw said.

The amount of brush from last month's storm is so extensive Parmelee said both Middlefield and Durham were in negotiations to contract the work out.

"Some people have asked me, 'Should we burn it?' I've said no. You've got to many issues ... the smoke's going to rise and you're going to upset the neighbors," Parmelee said. "The next best thing is to [rent] a tub grinder."

Parmelee said the $168,000 estimated cost of brush removal was calculated by FEMA officials.

Costs in addition to brush removal include $1,300 per day to operate the emergency shelter at Coginchaug High School which was opened on Sunday, Oct. 30.

"We served 2,300 meals. We had 1,400 people take a shower and we had 80 people stay overnight," said Parmelee, who also thanked other officials involved in the recovery efforts and praised CL&P.

"It's amazing how quick they really were working. In my opinion they did a fantastic job," he said.