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Council responds to RIDEM's dam emergency-action plan notice; forms team to produce 30-day plan
Summary
Following a RIDEM notice that owners of high-hazard dams must prepare emergency-action plans, Glocester council agreed to form a working group (planner, building official, EMA director) to inventory dams, prioritize plans and seek extensions or legislative relief.
The council was briefed by the town's Emergency Management director about a RIDEM requirement dating to 2018 that owners of high-hazard dams must prepare emergency action plans. The director said the state has begun more active enforcement and that Glocester has roughly 13 dams flagged as high-hazard; many ownerships are unclear.
Council agreed to assemble a team including the EMA director, the town planner and the building official to inventory known dams, prepare a schedule and commit to a 30-day status update to RIDEM. Members asked the solicitor to explore legal and funding options and to draft a potential resolution asking the town's legislative delegation for relief or support, citing the unfunded nature of the mandate.
What comes next: Staff will begin a title-examination and inventory process and report back in 30 days with a proposed timetable and cost estimate; the council indicated it would pursue a regional or legislative remedy if the state mandate proves financially burdensome.
