Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be touring Wareham to assess the damage inflicted upon the town by Hurricane Irene.

Officials will determine whether or not Wareham qualifies for a public assistance grant for emergency work which would help pay for expenses incurred during the removal of debris.

According to Wareham Police Chief Richard Stanley, Wareham is currently scheduled to receive enough money to reimburse 75% of the cost of storm expenses not including the costs incurred during debris-removal.

Stanley told the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday that he hopes the town can receive FEMA assistance that would help pay for 75% of the costs including debris removal.

In the wake of Hurricane Irene, Wareham spent $125,000 on tree removal and another $80,000 on “water control," Stanley said.

Municipal Maintenance Director Mark Gifford will lead FEMA officials around the town to assess the damage.

The Board of Selectmen also addressed the need to clarify the speed limits on Oak Street and Shore Avenue.

Selectman Steve Holmes read a letter from a concerned citizen which stated that there was a sign at the beginning of Oak Street that looked like it had been posted by another citizen and did not reflect the legal speed limit. Holmes also had a response from Wareham Police Lieutenant Kevin Walsh which proposed a legal speed limit of 25 mph for Oak Street.

Wareham Police Sergeant Peter Flannery also proposed a speed limit of 25 mph for Shore Avenue, Holmes said.

The Selectmen unanimously approved the posting the speed limits on both roads, along with stop signs and signs for blind driveways.

In other town business:

The Board of Selectmen meeting Tuesday began with Selectman Steve Holmes blasting an accusation made on a local blog claiming the Selectman is being investigated by the FBI in relation to a racism allegation made against Police Chief Richard Stanley.

Stanley was exonerated of the racism allegations in June 2010 after the accuser retracted his claims. The original incident occurred in January of 2010. (Click here for the original story.)

“This is my week in the blog bucket,” said Holmes. “I am not now, nor have I ever been the subject of an FBI investigation.”

Town attorney Rich Bowen investigated the matter that spring at the request of the Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator Mark Andrews. "There is no witness that corroborates any claim of racist or inappropriate behavior by Stanley," Bowen said during a presentation of his findings on June 8, 2010.

Following Bowen's presentation, Holmes concurred with the other of the members of the Board of Selectmen at that time, saying: "It's not fair to use race to try to cut somebody off at the knees."