The town has updated its flood plain ordinance, allowing it to continue qualifying for federal flood plain insurance.
The new ordinance, effective immediately, was unanimously approved last week by the Town Council.
The previous flood plain management ordinance consisted of regulations guiding residential and non-residential construction, while the new ordinance specifically addresses standards for “manufactured houses, recreational vehicles, bridges, retainment walls, wharfs, piers and docks,” according to Town Manager Tim Pellerin.
The new ordinance also seeks to limit or prevent flood waters from flowing into sewage and waste disposal systems, as well as the local water supply.
Also at the July 9 meeting, councilors received a brief update on the Town Hall project from architect Peter MacGovern of Oak Point Associates which, along with Lassel Architects, is designing an architectural plan for renovating Town Hall.
Oak Point has completed a survey of windows in Town Hall, MacGovern reported, without offering any details.
A financial assessment of the entire town hall project will likely be available to councilors at their July 23 meeting. That meeting will include a discussion of costs and next steps with the project, said Pellerin.
According to a timeline outlined in last week’s meeting packet, the process will move quickly in the runup to the Nov. 5 election if the Town Council votes to put a town hall warrant article on the ballot, a step that’s been under consideration for the past year.
“That is a very tentative timeline,” Assistant Town Manager Jennifer Janelle noted this week. “(Only) if the council decides to put a question on the November ballot, and only if the council decides to plan those activities on those days.”
The Time Line for Renovation in the packet lists Aug. 6 as the proposed date for a public hearing on the costs and plans; Aug. 13 for discussion of warrant article language to be sent to the town attorney; and Aug. 27 for the council’s approval of final warrant language that would go to the state Sept. 3 for printing on the ballot.
The tentative timeline cites Oct. 22 for a public hearing on the ballot language, two weeks ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
