Board of Finance Approves $5.15M in Bonding to Fix Sandy's Damage

Following approval by the Board of Selectmen, the Fairfield Board of Finance on Tuesday reportedly authorized $5.15 million in bonding for the repair of town facilities damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

The bonded funds, which still must be approved by the Representative Town Meeting, will be used for projects including fixing Penfield Pavilion and repairing the bathroom at Ye Yacht Yard, according to a report in the Fairfield Citizen.

The town expects to be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for about 75 percent of the costs.

Board of Finance members were reportedly interested to learn why Penfield Pavilion — which had been repaired following Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 — was so badly damaged in the storm. The $5 million project to repair the pavilion last year included the construction of bulkheads which were presumed to protect the iconic structure from future storms, however Sandy's storm surge undermined the building, causing significant damage.

According to the report, the town did not carry insurance specifically for the pavilion, however it is covered under the town's flood insurance, which carries a $500,000 deductible.

The town hopes to begin repairs on the structures before spring, according to the report.

The Board of Finance's approval of the funds fell on the same day that the U.S. House of Representatives approved a $50.5 billion relief package for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, ending weeks of political wrangling between Democrats and Republicans.

For more, check out the Fairfield Citizen report.