Berkeley Set To Receive $278,106 For Sandy Debris Cleanup Reimbursement

Berkeley officials will soon have an extra $278,106 in the township till, once they receive a check from Ocean County that reimburses Berkeley for debris cleanup after Superstorm Sandy slammed into the Jersey Shore on Oct. 29, 2012.

The reimbursement money will go straight into the township's surplus account to be applied for tax relief in the 2018 budget, Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. said.

"We appreciate the County filing for the reimbursement on our behalf," he said.

Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr. announced at the freeholder board's caucus meeting on Wednesday that the county would be reimbursing$9.3 million to the 17 municipalities that participated in the county's debris removal program after Sandy battered waterfront municipalities.

The reimbursement fund come from a Community Development Block Grand through the state Department of Community Affairs, Bartlett said.

The freeholders created a shared services agreement on Nov. 19, 2012. The county offered to oversee and fund the massive debris cleanup, which many municipalities could not handle.

Under the agreement, the county would be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Administration at 90 percent, with towns providing the 10 percent required local match. The agreement allowed towns to free up staff to attend to other storm-related activities and provide assistance to citizens, freeholders said.

"It was imperative to take action quickly," Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari said. "It was essential to take these steps with expediency in order to allow for necessary utility repairs, infrastructure repairs and most importantly for public safety."

The county fronted almost $100 million for the cleanup costs, without having to borrow for it, Vicari said.

"All of that money through FEMA and grants has been returned to the county and we are reimbursing the towns what had been their required match," Bartlett said.

He said FEMA told county officials that no other county has ever done or tried to do what Ocean County did following the storm.

The municipalities that participated in the debris removal program and the amount they will receive are: Barnegat Township, $39,545; Bay Head, $377,524; Beach Haven, $262,224; Berkeley Township, $278,106; Brick Township, $1.3 million; Jackson Township, $594,009; Lakewood, $460,872; Lavallette, $921,529; Long Beach Township, $809,441; Manchester Township, $226,253; Mantoloking, $306,226; Ocean Township, $69,698; Seaside Heights, $345,112; Seaside Park, $112,581; Ship Bottom, $114,261; Stafford Township, $781,862 and Toms River Township, $2,298,677.

In addition, Ocean County will receive $336,458.

Image: Patricia A. Miller