SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Select Board and Finance Committee met last night to review warrant articles for the Jan. 10 Special Town Meeting.
The biggest article – and the reason for the meeting – was the approval of borrowing nearly $72 million for renovations at the schools. Both boards unanimously approved placing the article on the warrant.
A second article, also unanimously approved, asks voters to approve $2.3 million in short-term borrowing for storm related costs.
The town is in the last days of cleaning up from the Oct. 29 blizzard and is starting the process to seek reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart said the numbers from FEMA-approved Ashbritt , the company removing debris, and O’Brien, the monitoring company, are in.
“We have estimates for other debris removal for grinding and we hope they come in less, but we need to have something in place,” Stinehart said.
Funds are also needed for Department of Public Works crews working weekends and police officers working details.
Selectman Chairman Fred Arnold said reimbursements are expected, but Southwick has to foot some of the bill.
“We should get 75 percent from FEMA and 12.5 percent from the state,” said Arnold. “The other 12.5 percent is our responsibility.”
Stinehart said FEMA is expected to come to individual towns soon, or host an informational meeting for all local communities.
The boards also approved placing an article transferring $14,000 from the cemetery’s sale of lots line item to salary to cover salary costs for the cemetery’s four employees through the end of the year.
Also approved for the warrant was an article appropriating $40,000 for lightning protection for the police and fire stations and town hall.
Fire Chief Richard Anderson said the equipment is badly needed.
“The police station has been hit several times,” he said.
The last time the buildings were struck, the dispatch system went down.
“That put us in a very difficult situation,” said Anderson.
The Southwick Town Meeting is set for Jan. 10 at the high school.
