Westwood Council Grants $700,000 for Hurricane Irene Damages

On Tuesday night, the Westwood Council approved the use of $700,000 in emergency funds to help clean up damages caused by Hurricane Irene.

The storm, in late August, caused massive property damages in the borough. The relief money will be used to remove debris along the banks of the Pascack Brook and additional damages caused by the flooding from Irene.

A portion of the emergency money will pay for four new employees, hired to focus on cleanup of the town. Westwood Officials said these hires are temporary, working until the middle of February.

Mayor John Birkner said although these funds are coming from next year’s town budget, Westwood will be reimbursed a large portion of it from the Federal Emergency Management Agency along with previously filed insurance claims. The town will also receive a county grant for the temporary hires, according to Birkner. Westwood was the first to apply for this grant, he said.