HAWLEY — It’s been five years since Tropical Storm Irene flooded Hawley, causing an estimated $2.5 million worth of damage; but now the town will hold a special town meeting to get residents’ approval to pay off the last $450,000 of its remaining storm debt.
The special town meeting will take place on Oct. 17 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Town Office.
The first article asks the town to spend $345,165 in storm-related reimbursement funds from the federal and state Emergency Management agencies (FEMA and MEMA). The second article asks voters to transfer $104,835 from the General Stabilization Fund to be used to pay off the remaining loan balance.
According to Financial Administrator Virginia Gabert, the town has not yet received its full storm damage reimbursement from MEMA. She said the town is waiting for another $154,000 from the state emergency agency. But paying off the loan balance now will save the town interest. When the final MEMA money comes in, it will be transfered into the General Stabilization Fund, she said.
A final article asks voters to rescind an annual town meeting vote in favor of a “Stretch Energy Code,” because of a misunderstanding about the number of votes required to pass the article.