Town of Millis approves $119,800 engineering contract to seek FEMA map revision

The Millis Select Board voted unanimously to approve a $119,800 contract with Weston & Samson Engineering to prepare a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) to FEMA that town officials say could remove roughly 50 parcels — primarily industrial lots on Main Street and a smaller number of residences — from the federal flood zone.

Robert Weiss, the town’s economic development planning director, told the board the work follows a Phase 1 review that identified gaps in FEMA’s inputs and modeling. "Phase two is to send a letter of map revision to FEMA," Weiss said, adding the consultant will use geological and hydrologic data FEMA did not include. He estimated the study will take about six months and the town anticipates sending the LOMR to FEMA "the beginning of next year." He described the change as important for lowering insurance rates and reducing building constraints for property owners.

Resident Joyce Boyardi asked why FEMA had relied on older maps, saying she was surprised by the use of decades-old baselines. Weiss and other board members said FEMA generally models using available data and does not always field-verify site-specific changes, and that the town’s appeal process has succeeded previously.

The board’s motion to approve the contract was moved, seconded and passed by unanimous vote. Chair Craig Schultz and other board members framed the project as an investment to protect local industry and to avoid higher insurance costs for property owners.

Next steps: the consultant will complete a town-paid study (Phase 2) then the town will submit the revision package to FEMA (Phase 3); the consultant estimates about six months for the study before submission. The contract was funded from appropriations noted in the town’s packet.

This item was discussed in public session; the board did not identify any off-site fieldwork that would require police details. The vote authorizes the town administrator to sign the contract as written.