Westfield has already spent an estimated $400,000 on the clean-up effort.
WESTFIELD – City crews, assisted by five area tree removal contractors, expected to clear storm debris from the Oct. 29 snowstorm within the next two weeks.
City Advancement Officer Jeffrey R. Daley and Department of Public Works superintendent James M. Mulvenna said Thursday about half the city has been cleared and what is left will be removed from tree belts within the next 7 to 10 days.
They estimated the cost to date at about $400,000 saying 75 percent of that cost is expected to be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Remaining debris removal will not be eligible for FEMA reimbursements, they said.
“We have decided not to seek federal reimbursement beyond the first 90-hours after the storm,” said Daley. “The reimbursement eligibility will only cover safety related clean-up on public ways. Most of what is left in Westfield is on private property that does not qualify,” he said.
A crew from Green Meadow Lumber of Westfield works on storm damage near Stanley Park on Kensington Avenue last week.Mulvenna agreed that DPW crews and private contractors can complete the clean-up effort efficiently and effectively.
“They have been doing it since the storm. They also aided us during the June tornado,” said Mulvenna.
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik, Daley and Mulvenna decided on Wednesday against hiring a general contractor and debris monitors for completion of the project. The monitors would have been required to document work eligible for reimbursement to FEMA, officials said.
Residents are asked to bring debris such as branches and brush from the storm to tree belts for pick up. Residents can also bring brush and branches to the city’s Twiss Street landfill which will be open Saturday and Sunday.
Knapik was unable to estimate the final cost of clean-up.