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Manchester aldermen receive hazard mitigation plan rewrite, chief cites grant eligibility
Summary
The city chief summarized a months-long rewrite of the hazard mitigation plan, saying it reduces loss of life and property and is required to access federal grants; the board approved the plan and discussed starting grant work before an expected February application window.
The Manchester Board Mayor & Aldermen received and approved the city's hazard mitigation plan rewrite during the meeting. The chief summarized the plan's purpose, saying it "reduces the loss of life and property by minimizing the impact of disasters," and noted the rewrite has been underway for roughly six to eight months.
The chief told aldermen that the hazard mitigation plan is required by the federal government to be eligible for many grants and that projects identified in past mitigation plans produced notable local projects such as a sewer separation project and an increase in the city fiber loop. The chief described mitigation planning as a preparatory step that helps the city capitalize on federal grant dollars but said grants are labor-intensive, lengthy and detailed.
An alderman asked when staff would begin grant application work given an expected February grant cycle; the chief said staff would start as soon as time allows and would begin work ahead of award deadlines when feasible. Following discussion, a motion to accept or approve the hazard mitigation plan was made (mover recorded as Alderman Berry and seconded by Alderman Morgan) and the transcript records 'Aye' responses indicating the motion passed. The transcript does not provide a roll-call tally by name or a written ordinance/resolution number tied to the plan approval.
The board's approval makes the plan the city's working mitigation document for grant eligibility; the transcript does not specify which department will submit which specific grants, the size of any expected grant requests, or an exact timeline beyond the chief's indication of starting as soon as time allows.
