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Date: 5/16/2023
BRIMFIELD — The Special Town Meeting on Monday, May 22, at 5:30 p.m. in Town Hall will vote to amend several flood plain bylaws that could directly impact homeowners and properties.
Becoming familiar with this issue is important to homeowners, Planning Board Chair David Killian said, as it could affect them and have serious consequences if the new bylaws are not passed. Killian said if the bylaws do not pass, it could be “catastrophic” for the town and residents.
“Article 1 proposes to amend the town of Brimfield Zoning Bylaws Section 3.0 District Use Regulations, subsection 3.10 Flood Plain District-Purpose through subsection 3.18 Other Use Regulations, as set forth in the warrant. The purpose of this article is to assure that the Town’s Flood Plain District Bylaw meets the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program,” Administrative Assistant to the Select Board Theresa Cofske writes in an email about the subject.
Article 1 is worth paying attention to, Killian said. The town is currently working with FEMA on map changes of the flood plain areas in the town, and Killian said that cooperating with FEMA on these changes by passing the article changing flood plain bylaws is crucial for homeowners who want to make sure they are covered by insurance.
Killian said that in the new FEMA maps for flood plain areas, “some areas are pulled back and some extended, so people should be checking to see what their status is if they are near a body of water.”
Killian explained, “The important part here is those people who are currently applying for flood insurance should be aware of FEMA’s changes.” Killian said if the new bylaws are not accepted, homeowners will not be able to get flood insurance — unless the town is cooperating with FEMA’s changes.
Killian said the Planning Board voted unanimously to accept the changes.
Planning Board Secretary Patricia Plasse said the reason the Special Town Meeting is taking place so early is because the bylaw amendments have to be finalized by June 7. The town is working with the state Department of Conservation and Recreation on the new bylaws, Plasse said.
“In order for DCR to have the floodplain program in place the town needs to amend the bylaws by a certain date. If you don’t have that finalized by state, you [the town, property and homeowners] can’t get flood insurance,” Plasse said.
The town recommends that once the new maps and bylaw are officially in place, homeowners contact their insurance agent or DCR to find out if their property zoning has changed, and make sure they have the proper insurance in place in case of an emergency. Residents who currently are not in a flood plain zone should find out if this status changed, as they may now need insurance.
The FEMA maps and information can be found at the town clerk’s office. To learn more, visit mass.gov/guides/floodplain-management. There are also people available from DCR to walk residents through floodplain insurance and management, these individuals and contact information is found at the bottom of the website.
The Special Town Meeting warrant can be found at brimfieldma.org.