Cleanup continues; trash program dumped.

Byline: Paula J. Owen

PRINCETON - Cleanup from the ice storm should be complete within two to three weeks, selectmen said Monday, despite contractors running into hundreds more tree hangers than expected.

The town has issued a change order for the work with the contractor, Selectman Joseph H. O'Brien said, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is "on board" for the town to receive 75 percent reimbursement for the additional work.

It was projected that there were 1,250 hangers left to be cleaned up, he said. That number rose to around 2,000 and there could possibly be 1,000 more, Mr. O'Brien said.

"It's an issue, and so it's taking longer because of that," he said.

Additionally, it is likely contractors will make three passes on some of the roads to remove leftover wood debris, he said.

"I can tell you one thing - at the end of the day, there is gong to be hangers," Mr. O'Brien added. "I don't think there is any way possible we are going to get them all."

This week, crews are working on Route 140 up to Wachusett Mountain, he said.

"My only concern is that we get reimbursed for all this," said Selectman Raymond A. Dennehey III, noting that half of the 25 percent reimbursement promised by the state was approved by legislators for disbursement this fiscal year.

Selectman Alan Sentkowski said the town was still open for some liability because funding from the state was based on original estimates for the cost of cleanup and the other 12.5 percent in state reimbursement is still up in the air.

In other business, the proposed regional trash hauling program with Templeton and Hubbardston has seen its last day.

Selectmen said it was time to fish or cut bait with the program, and the town was cutting bait. People who had been interested in the program, but are now wondering what to do, should call a private trash hauler, they said.

Officials are crafting a letter explaining to residents that not enough people signed up for the program and those who did will be reimbursed their $10 deposit. At least 60 percent signup in each of the three communities was required, and numbers were well below that target, Mr. Sentkowski said.

"My feeling is the program is gone," he said. "The program isn't happening, and it isn't going to happen."

Mr. Sentkowski said the biggest concern of residents was the requirement to buy bags for the program.

Because trash collection falls under the purview of the Board of Health, selectmen said they will request Board of Health members take the issue up at their next meeting and then schedule a joint meeting with selectmen to discuss how the town should proceed.

An option, Mr. Sentkowski said, would be to include trash removal on the tax rate to save costs for residents, but other regionalization efforts that will save the town money - such as emergency dispatch - may take precedence for consideration.

NAME: PRINCETON SELECTMEN