The cost of the debris removal from the storm was $3.5 million.
LUDLOW – The Board of Selectmen has approved short-term borrowing of $3.5 million to pay for debris removal costs from the Oct. 29 snowstorm.
Selectmen approved the short-term borrowing in the event it is needed to pay for the debris removal costs. Selectmen Chairman Aaron Saunders said federal disaster reimbursement has now been approved which will reimburse the town for 75 percent of the $3.5 million.
“The federal disaster declaration from President Obama has happened,” Saunders said. The declaration assures the town the 75 percent reimbursement, he said.
Saunders added that an additional 25 percent reimbursement of the costs is possible from the state, but he said he “would not count on it” at the present time.
Saunders said that since Ludlow has some federal roads, its federal disaster reimbursement could be more than 75 percent.
Snow removal from the Oct. 29 snowstorm was about $100,000, Saunders said. He said snow removal costs are not reimbursable. The $3.5 million in debris removal costs will be reimbursable, he said.
The short-term borrowing is to cover a possible time lag in the receipt of the federal funds, Saunders said.
Some surrounding communities had higher cleanup costs. Springfield had costs of more than $20 million for debris removal alone. Wilbraham had a cleanup cost of $5 million.
The cost of the cleanup in Monson is $3 million, a figure that prompted selectmen to caution a worst-case scenario of a government shutdown for two years if no federal or state assistance came through.
The storm dumped a wet, heavy snow on the region, leaving a foot or more in some places. Leaf-laden branches and trees fell, downing power lines and blocking roads.
Across Western Massachusetts roughly 200,000 customers were left without power, some for as many as eight days.