October Snow Storm Could End Up Costing Manchester $4 Million

As if , the freak October snowstorm that pummeled the state last month, didn’t already do enough damage to the town, officials say that the total cost of the storm could wind up costing Manchester as much as $4 million.

General Manager Scott Shanley said the storm, which wiped out power for well over a week for many residents and resulted in the town having to convert Manchester High School to an emergency shelter, could cost upwards of $4 million once all costs are tallied, and that the firm Manchester had to hire to collect debris would cost about $3 million alone.

That firm, based out of Florida, was secured through a public bidding process, Shanley said. Additional costs, such as expenses to run the shelter and overtime for town personnel during the cleanup phase, could cost as much as $1 million more. 

President Barack Obama for seven of Connecticut’s eight counties last week, including Hartford County, which Shanley said means Manchester could be eligible for as much as 75 percent reimbursement from the federal government for costs incurred due to the storm. Shanley said Manchester has secured an engineering firm, SAIC, to help it track its costs for the storm and secure the full amount of reimbursement.

“We’re going to try and get back every bit of that money that we’re eligible to get back,” Shanley said.

The additional $1 million would likely come from the town’s reserves, he said. 

“Through the years various Board of Directors have built up strong reserves,” he said. “The reason that they did that is just this reason.”

Another casualty of Winter Storm Alfred is the leaf vacuuming service the town typically provides to residents this time of year. Shanley said, because of the extent of the debris from the storm still left to collect throughout town, the town simply would not be able to offer that service to residents this year for a variety of reasons.

The town will still collect bagged leafs curbside from residences, although the town is asking that residents not leave the bags on the side of the road but only place them curbside on their regular trash collection day. The town is also selling paper collection bags at cost – a 30 gallon bag costs 30 cents and a 45 gallon bag 45 cents. Bags can be purchased at Town Hall, 41 Center St., at the Manchester Senior Center, 549 East Middle Tpke., and at the landfill off Olcott Street. Residents can also bring their leafs directly to the town’s composting area off Olcott Street.

Public Works Director Mark Carlino said that debris collection from the storm was “going well” and that the town was readying for a second pass in the coming weeks, which it would alert residents to beforehand.