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Code Enforcement warns of DEC flood‑map deadline; committee discusses need for local law and intermunicipal agreements
Summary
John Graham, Code Enforcement Administrator, briefed the committee on a NYS DEC letter that links compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program to adoption of local measures; DEC set a July 21, 2026 target and the committee discussed an April 22 draft‑local‑law timing and the technical limits of Code Enforcement to perform floodplain engineering and permitting.
John Graham, Washington County Code Enforcement Administrator, told the Public Safety Committee on March 3 that a letter from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation warns the county to adopt local law changes to remain in the National Flood Insurance Program and avoid program suspension. The DEC letter sets a compliance target of July 21, 2026; Graham said the committee is working to have draft local laws prepared and noted an internal draft‑law deadline of April 22.
Graham cautioned that full floodplain administration — for example, hydrologic/culvert studies and permitting for projects that change sediment or flow — exceeds the technical scope and staffing of current Code Enforcement functions and typically requires engineering expertise. He said DEC guidance indicates the need for a designated floodplain administrator and that towns may need intermunicipal agreements if Code Enforcement is expected to absorb additional duties.
Supervisors raised jurisdictional and administrative questions. Supervisor Rozell said the town of Whitehall will forward its draft local law to the committee when complete. Supervisor Skellie noted that town supervisors commonly act as flood administrators and that DEC typically handles certain permitting tasks. Graham urged caution about drafting laws that would require Code Enforcement to perform engineering tasks it is not equipped to carry out; he recommended clarifying roles between towns, DEC, and county staff before submitting local laws to the state.
Committee members did not adopt local law language at the March 3 meeting; the item remains under discussion ahead of the DEC compliance timeline.
