The regularly scheduled Moretown Select Board meeting this week was focused on the ongoing flood relief and cleanup efforts of the week following severe flooding caused by Hurricane Irene.
Select board chair John Hoogenboom told residents that the government was “so impressed by how much we’ve accomplished; the cleanup has gone so well.”
“It’s time to roll up our sleeves and realize we’re not done; we have to make sure things are done right, and we can’t do something assuming you’re going to be reimbursed,” Hoogenboom continued.
Hoogenboom said the town is doing its best; “Please rest assured, whether you’re a property owner, businesses owner, nonprofit, we’re trying to address every situation. We’re all going through this for the first time.”
Select board member Clark Amadon said the “needs are changing in the process of recovery. The cleaning and sterilizing has happened. Now we’re working on the next level of needs for the townspeople as we go through recovery.”
Moretown resident David Van Deusen said “As we look forward to the rebuilding phase, there is $500,000 in the capital savings account. Maybe that’s something for the select board to think about because you’d have to warn a townwide vote.”
Moretown health officer Dick Valentinetti said he’s distributed 50 home water tests kits already and urged residents to “use common sense” in terms of cleanup, especially during the early phase.
“It’s very important to use masks,” he said.
In addition, he said the town did a good job wetting down the streets to prevent dust and with the rain, a lot of the contaminated soil has washed away.
Moretown Elementary School Principal Duane Pierson said that after 27 workers scoured the school for the last seven days, the school is “the cleanest it’s ever been.”
The school will open on September 12; the floors and carpeting have been stripped down to the concrete and a carpenter is coming to cover the floors and put a vinyl baseboard back on.
The long-term plan, according to Pierson, is to do vinyl flooring. Before any students enter the school there will be surface and air quality testing conducted to make sure “the school is a safe, clean place to be,” he said.
The Moretown Landfill will continue to accept hazardous household waste including light bulbs, batteries and anything liquid and hazardous in nature.
{loadnavigation}
