Committee backs $8 million debt-exclusion for Tom Nevers debris removal, citing erosion urgency
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Summary
The Finance Committee unanimously supported an $8 million debt-exclusion appropriation (Article 16) to fund Tom Nevers Phase 2 debris removal, emphasizing the need to remove subsurface debris upland before erosion exposes it to the beach and complicates permitting.
The Finance Committee voted Feb. 17 to move forward Article 16, an $8,000,000 debt-exclusion appropriation to fund Phase 2 of the Tom Nevers debris-cleanup project.
Charlie, who is overseeing on-site work, said Phase 1 removed large concrete and surface debris and that Phase 2 focuses on removing subsurface debris north of the remaining asphalt road before erosion brings it onto the beach. The project team expects lidar and ground-penetrating radar surveys to refine the quantity of buried materials and the final cost estimate. "We're in the process right now of getting a company out here to do a lidar, and ground penetrating ... survey," Charlie said.
Drew briefed the committee on federal funding prospects, saying past attempts to secure federal appropriations produced only directives for further study and that federal funding is uncertain and unlikely to meet the town's timeline. "There's a very slim chance or outside chance that federal funding could be available," Drew said, arguing the town should not plan on federal assistance for Phase 2.
Members asked about liability and whether litigation against the Navy had been explored; town officials said they had not pursued litigation and viewed it as unlikely to succeed within a useful timeframe. Counsel noted general municipal liability is managed through insurance but emphasized the town im is to mitigate risk by removing subsurface hazards.
The committee approved the motion to appropriate $8,000,000 (debt exclusion), noting the appropriation would be contingent on the successful ballot vote required for debt exclusions.