Councilors to hear car tales
He's also relieved that, after eight days of haggling, he and his insurance company reached an agreement for a payout that enabled him to replace the 2015 Subaru Impreza he had bought new -- although the replacement, also an Impreza, is a 2008.
"So I guess this whole fiasco cost me
Now, he's wondering whether the city might find a way to reimburse him and dozens of others who lost cars parked at
"At least then," he said, "I wouldn't be financially punished for following the city's rules."
Tuesday, the
The public forum will be held at the start of Tuesday's
"That seemed like an appropriate place for this," Council President
"If there are people who have issues resulting from the storm -- issues that the city can and should address, this will give them a dedicated time to come and let us know," he said. "If we can do something about them, fine. But, even if it's beyond what the city can do, I want to just get the facts on the table."
'Nobody warned us'
Mayor
"We're doing everything we can," said the mayor, who encouraged local car dealerships to work with residents whose vehicles were rendered useless by the salty flood waters. She said the city is looking into potential grant money, especially given the uniqueness of the damaging surge.
"Nobody warned us -- or could have warned us -- of anything quite like that," she said, noting that an astronomical high tide timed at the height of the storm brought record surges of up to 4 feet across the region. Those conditions were followed by a three-day deep freeze with wind-chill temperatures well below zero.
Councilor
He acknowledged that though the city only makes the Gloucester High lot and others available for off-street snow parking -- and doesn't order drivers to park there -- the city should try to help.
"Obviously, the parking lot was dedicated for the purpose of being used for (residential off-street parking) for that day," he said. "And, let's face it, we directed them to that location." The city routinely makes residents aware that all city-owned lots -- including those at its schools -- are available for parking during a snow emergency.
Looking for aid windows
O'Hara said he's asked for a review of the city's general liability policy to see if there are any windows for covering the flooded cars -- "especially under these circumstances," he said.
"But the big thing is just to give people the chance to come out and tell us, tell the administration, how they were impacted," O'Hara said. "Then we can look and see if there's something we can do to help that hasn't been done yet.
"We don't want to tout this is going to be some kind of handout session, because clearly it's not," he added. "But it's important for these people to come out. And then for us to see if there's anyplace we can go to find money to help."
Emerson said he expects to attend.
"I'm sure the city has problems with cash payouts (to private parties)," he said. State law generally prohibits cash distributions by cities and towns to private parties, unless in the case of a legal order.
"But I do think (the city) needs to build some good will," Emerson said, "and I'd be thrilled if somebody would say, "You know that deductible you had to pay? We'll cover it.' Or 'You know that excise bill? Forget it, we'll take care of it.' That would be nice."
If you go
What: Public forum for residents whose cars were destroyed by the storm surge in the
When:
Where:
___
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