Hartford eyes floodplain manager

By Christina Scanlon

Hartford town officials are considering hiring a floodplain manager, an extra layer of protection for the issuance of building permits.

“We need a working plan, not just a plan,” said Supervisor Dana Haff.

A town law drafted in 1992 does not address needs that were seen around the state after Hurricane Irene, he said.

The town has a floodplain administrator, Mark Miller, enforcement officer. By law, the town needs a floodplain manager. Miller can act as manager, as well, but Haff believes the town could benefit from a professional.

“It prevents misinterpretation,” he said. While Miller, he said, does an excellent job, floodplains permits “are three pages long and complex.”

Guidance by an expert in the field could be provided by a nationally certified floodplain manager, which is why Haff invited Alton Knapp of A.E. Knapp and Associates to speak about the benefits of hiring a professional manager.

Knapp has 40 years of experience and could offer services to the town for $500 a year. The town of Salem recently retaining Knapp’s services.

Municipalities without a floodplain manager could face federal sanctions, said Haff.

“Denial of disaster assistance for certain things” could occur, said Knapp, if the town does not comply with the issuance of floodplain permits.

There’s more to looking at the floodplain map. “I go a little farther,” said Knapp, including any streams and bodies of water.

Municipalities are liable if they issue a permit that should not be issued.

“Litigation is involved when mistakes are made,” said Knapp, noting he’s seen county permits issued that were in violation.

Haff told of a pending lawsuit where an insurance company is suing engineers, architects, developers and a municipality, related to a home build in a floodplain.

“Those are the things I want to prevent,” said Haff.

A professional floodplain manager, said Haff, “provides a method of appeal” if down the road an insurance company denies a claim.

Records will also be kept in the event of audits by the state Department of Environmental Conservation or the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Knapp said the town does not have a lot of properties that fall into the floodplain, which is very narrow. Those property owners in the floodplain or in adjacent parcels would pay $10 to Knapp to get a quick determination that a building permit can be used.

Those that are determined to be in the floodplain can still be issued a building permit, but building plans would need to meet critieria that allow the home or structure to be build.

No floodplain permits have been issued in the last 13 years in the town, according to enforcement officer Miller.

The town is reviewing the Salem documents and crafting a proposal to meet the specific needs of Hartford.