Town Board Approves $300K for Sandy Repairs

The Babylon Town Board has started the revitalization process after signing off on $300,000 worth of contracts to help rebuild town beaches, docks and parks hit hard by Hurricane Sandy in October.

Newsday reports construction will start by the end of January and three local construction firms have until Thursday to prepare design documents for their projects. Town officials set an ambitious "before Memorial Day" deadline for the repairs to be completed.

Patch reported the Town Board had approved a total amount of $22.5 million to help with the repair processes throughout the Town of Babylon. Areas closest to the shoreline, especially beachfronts such as Overlook and Gilgo Beach and Tanner Park, saw extensive damage during the October hurricane.

"We're hoping to get as much back from FEMA as we can," town spokesman Kevin Bonner told Newsday.

Town Councilman Tony Martinez told Newsday that the repairs to Overlook Beach alone could cost upwards of $6 million. Martinez also said the town may look to rebuild some structures to withstand another storm like Sandy.

"We've got to prepare for the next one," Martinez said to Newsday.

Cashin Associaties, a Hauppauge-based company, could earn a total of $141,524 for planning the repairs to Cedar Beach Marina and Overlook Beach, as well as the dredging at Venetian Shores Park in West Babylon and repairing a town marina in Copiague.

Savlik & Murray, a Ronkonkoma company, will earn $130,604 for repairs to Tanner Park Marina while Mineola-based Sidney B. Bowne & Son will earn $30,000 for repairs to the Tanner Park electrical system.