NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION
SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 2:00 P.M.
CRERPA Offices
Saybrook Junction Marketplace
455 Boston Post Road
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting came to order after introductions at 2:30 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Planning Commission
Janis Esty
Bob Missel
Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency Land Use Department
Jay Northrup Sandy Prisloe
Torrance Downs Christine Nelson
III. INVENTORY
J. Northrup gave an overview of the need to update the current 5-year Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, which the Town last adopted in 2006. Although there is no deadline by which to adopt an update, an out-of-date plan would make the Town ineligible for and hazard mitigation funding during a gap in effectiveness. The Town does not have any applications pending for funding.
A. Orientation to Plan Elements
Mr. Northrup described the format of the Plan as set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”). The first part of the Plan, entitled “Introduction”, is a contextual description of the town (geography, demographics, geology, land use, etc.). Much of this will remain the same but will need to be updated or expanded for the 2011-2016 edition.
Mr. Downes, who prepared the last version of the Plan for the Town, suggested that the update of this section should account for accomplishments in implementing tasks assigned in the 2005-2011 Plan.
B. Interview Officials, Volunteers, Community
The Committee would like to review: the Capital Improvement Program for the last 5-years and the next to give credit for accomplishments to-date (and assess needs going-forward); the critical and non-critical facilities since many have been renovated in the past five years (and itemize any need for new investment); and Emergency Management’s plan for hazard mitigation to understand how best to integrate without inconsistency (and identify if there is opportunity to mutually support different stages of administration); grants/funding the Town has received and used for natural hazard mitigation (and if there is a need to continually fund programs or facilities)
The Committee will continue its first review at its 9/21/2011 meeting by inviting its first official for an informal interview: Christina Costa, Zoning Enforcement Officer, regarding her active and on-going participation in Plan implementation.
C. Model Natural Hazards
At its 9/28/2011 meeting, the Committee will meet with Adam Whelchel of the Nature Conservancy regarding its work with Old Saybrook as a pilot community to display its Coastal Resilience tool to better inform land use planning by taking into account the phenomenon of sea level rise.
IV. MITIGATION ANALYSIS
The second part of the Plan, entitled “Evaluation”, examines the Town’s infrastructure (roads, bridges, dams, stormwater catchments and outfalls, etc.) and its regulatory scheme for use of land and construction of buildings (open space exaction, flood hazard ordinance, stormwater management, building code). The Committee began a preliminary audit of the status of implementation of the tasks assigned in the current plan (eliminate as done or no longer relevant; keep as ongoing, having a next step, or still relevant but incomplete). The Committee also looked at the agencies or officials to whom the tasks were originally associated to verify appropriateness.
V. PLAN DRAFTING
The Committee agreed that it is their goal to get the updated plan adopted by January 18, 2012, which is 5 years after its previous adoption, but that it will be necessary to be flexible given the change in administration of the Board of Selectmen.
VI. IMPLEMENTATION
The Committee would like a representative of the Board to be active in its drafting and adoption so that its implementation has a champion to put the necessary resources in place (personnel, funding, and prioritization).
VII. ADJOURNMENT
The Committee adjourned at 4:15 P.M. and agreed to have its next special meeting Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 2:00 P.M., CRERPA Offices, Saybrook Junction Marketplace, 455 Boston Post Road.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Nelson
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