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Committee reviews applications for tornado relief funding

Date: 10/4/2011

Oct. 3, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

WILBRAHAM — With all of the applications now submitted, the Tornado Victim Relief Fund Review Committee has begun the arduous process of reviewing funding requests.

The committee hosted its first meeting last week to review the applications, which David Barry, committee chair, said could take as long as a month to complete.

“We originally said we hoped to have this done by mid-October,” he said. “But I think the end of October is more realistic and it may take a little longer. This is a difficult process because it’s not cut and dry.”

The committee received a total of 58 applications requesting a piece of the $91,895 Monson Savings Bank raised to help defray costs incurred by Wilbraham residents related to the June 1 EF-3 tornado that were not covered by insurance.

Committee member Lee Miner said it took him the better part of three days to look over what was “over 10 pounds in applications” in preparation for the meeting.

Committee member Brian Tracy also noted that there is more than $600,000 of total net loss being claimed, not including the applications he dismissed as not qualifying.

“In reality, we only have something like 15 percent of the money people are looking for,” he said.

The process is also slowed somewhat by the committee’s need for more information from some applicants, such as insurance statements and receipts for work already completed.

The committee is currently weighing what system it plans to use to determine the merit of a request.

“Whatever we do, I think it should be kept simple, fair and equitable,” Barry told the other committee members.

The committee agreed that damage to homes and vehicles would take first priority, while tree removal and other buildings, such as sheds or detached garages, on the property were also considered high on the priority list. The committee also decided that it would shy away from giving money for tree replacement and other landscaping costs.

“I understand that for some there’s an issue with erosion, but I think that’s a slippery slope to start going down,” Miner said.

Claims for damage to items such as above ground pools and septic systems are being weighed on a case-by-case basis.



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