Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Flood Protection topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council delays levee reaccreditation contract while members seek FEMA and funding clarifications
Summary
Councilors discussed hiring an engineering/architecture firm to assess the city's levee system and asked for clarification about FEMA requirements and funding; the hiring authorization (PL 13-25) was postponed to gather more information.
Councilors discussed a proposed agreement to hire Hedgeson, Durham & Richardson Architecture & Engineering PC to begin a multi-year levee reaccreditation evaluation but postponed action to get clarifications about federal requirements and local funding.
Mayor Mary Galio and staff member Brad said the engineering work would assess where the city's levee system meets or falls short of standards from state and federal agencies (DEC, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA). The contract amount was stated in the agenda as $132,166.28 and staff described the work as the start of a multi-year process intended to document compliance and potentially reduce flood-insurance impacts for residents.
Alderman Robinson asked whether pursuing the study could be wasted effort if FEMA’s programs or requirements change; councilors sought legal or regulatory guidance on any deadlines tied to map updates and whether federal responsibilities were shifting. Brad said the study funding was set aside in a sewer-capital project from prior fiscal-year carryover, not from a new grant, and that the firm had been told the council was discussing the matter that evening.
After discussion, Alderman Robinson moved to postpone PL 13-25 and request clarification on FEMA or equivalent agency requirements; the motion was seconded and carried. No contract was authorized at the meeting.
Ending: Council members instructed staff to return with written clarification about the funding source, any deadlines tied to federal flood-map updates, and the precise scope the city would request from the engineering firm before authorizing the contract.
