Adams Approves Deficit Spending To Fix Irene's Damage
ADAMS, Mass. — Hurricane Irene caused millions of dollars worth of damage that now threatens public safety and the town issued a blank check on Friday to do those repairs immediately and worry about the cost later.The Board of Selectmen authorized, in an emergency meeting, deficit spending, which allows the town to overspend the budget this year and pay for it later. Butler said the repairs are only intended to ensure public safety in areas that were destroyed by the hurricane and most of the money should later be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"We can't afford to wait two years to do these projects. We're going to lose lives if we wait," Board of Selectmen Chairman Arthur "Skip" Harrington said.
Butler outlined seven projects that need immediate attention, which include a section of road near Lime Street that could collapse if it erodes anymore. Most of the projects are focused on cleaning out clogged drainage that could cause massive flooding from even the most routine thunderstorms, Butler said.
"The damage to the properties on Lime Street is massive," Butler said. "We need these projects moving forward in September."
Butler called on town officials to "demonstrate leadership" and get the work done as quickly as possible for sake of the public. The projects are not a matter of frivolity but rather a necessity. The immediate work will be "band aids" just to make the town safe, he said.
Butler added that the town should be reimbursed by at least 75 percent for any money spent. However, that has not been set in stone. The county has to show at least $8 million worth of damages before it can qualify for FEMA funding. Representatives from the state Emergency Management Agency have toured the destruction twice since the storm and Butler said they are confident that the threshold will be exceeded.
Rough estimates on four of the seven projects totaled $1.6 million, Butler said, and there is additional work to do. Engineers from Hill Engineering have already assessed the project, Butler said.
"We are still in a state of emergency in Adams," Butler said, adding that the town has not yet identified all of the problems caused by the storm. "We had to move quickly on getting specs for these projects."
A few of the projects result from landslides on private property but do threaten the public road ways and some drainage areas have not been maintained by the town in 30 years, Butler said.
Superintendent of Public Works Tom Satko added that the town employees are doing what they can right now but do not have the equipment to complete the projects. Already the storm has caused the town to spend about $25,000 in overtime for employees - ranging from public works to police.
The board will be able to decide how to later fund the projects in future budgets, which could mean long-term or short-term loans.
"You have to trust in your Town Administrator and the department heads," Butler said. "It's to no benefit to myself or my department heads to overspend."
The procedure still needs to be approved by the state Department of Revenue but Butler said a lot of towns are doing the same thing and therefore he is not expecting the state to reject the proposal.
The board unanimously approved the move.
