Recently I met with Andy Bobola, Director of Inspectional Services, and Kathleen Costello, Principal Assessor for Mattapoisett, to learn more about the ongoing debate and problems with the Federal Emergency Management Agency flood plain maps and rising flood insurance rates.

It was brought to my attention earlier in the week that Marshfield was holding a public meeting, and that January 18 was being touted as State Wide Real Estate Abatement/Flood Insurance Information day. Here is what a press release stated: “January 18^th will be the Massachusetts Coastal Coalitions State Wide Abatement day. The goal is to focus on only those policies that are $5000 or more, and/or have gone up 100%. The reason for the amount is to show that the homeowner has been significantly aggrieved, and to make a statement on the larger insurance increases.”

A news article in the January 14 issue of the Patriot Ledger reads in part: “Members of the Massachusetts Coastal Coalition hope a wave of property tax abatement applications will send a clear message about the thousands of homeowners who have been significantly aggrieved by rising flood insurance costs.” It goes on to describe how the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, which eliminated flood insurance subsidies for homes built before the creation of flood maps, caused premiums to soar. The act started phasing into effect this year, it goes on to say, with FEMA’s release of new flood maps. These new maps expanded flood plains and raised water elevations, impacting thousands more are now pushed to purchase expensive flood insurance.

The coalition believes the cause and effect of rising flood insurance rates is the lowering of coastal property values because homes won’t sell in those locations. Given that scenario, let the abatement applications begin.

However, back home in Mattapoisett, our town hall departments have been actively pursuing what they believe is a more productive course of action – imploring the legislature to work for the people.

Both Bobola and Costello have been meeting with their counterparts in other cities and towns, attending their association meetings and building consensus across the region that will hopefully aid in affecting change through the house and senate.

Costello said, “I am mandated by the [Department of Revenue] to use 6/30/11 through 7/1/13 sales values” to set tax rates. She said she had no latitude or authority to lower a resident’s tax rate other than those rules set by the state. She explained that assessors are always ‘looking back,’ not at the present or future condition of real estate or transactions, therefore values can’t be dropped until the numbers prove that out and within the prescribed dates in time established by the DOR. “Tons of work [will be put on] principal assessors which is going to lead no where,” Bobola emphasized.

For his part, Bobola has attended the Buzzards Bay Action Committee, orchestrating through his network the guest speaker Richard Zingarelli, regional National Flood Insurance Program coordinator, at the October meeting. In attendance were local officials from the surrounding towns, building officials, town officials, and various other town staff members representing Wareham, Bourne, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Acushnet, Fairhaven, Marion and Mattapoisett. During his hour long presentation, Zingarelli explained the Biggert-Waters Act.             This act has so seriously impacted the NFIP that citizens, citizen groups and municipal associations have mobilized in an effort to get it postponed. For a truly insightful explanation, you may view the video clip of Zingarelli’s presentation at Buzzards Bay Action Committee’s web site, www.buzzardsbayaction.org, from the home page you can easily navigate to the clip. I found it informative, scary, and necessary.

Costello said that she recently attended a meeting of the organization with which she is affiliated, the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officials. At the most recent breakfast meeting, she was heartened to see a member of William Straus’ office in attendance. “That tells me he gets it,“ she stated. She went on to say that this organization has been watching and working on this issue for over a year. She said everyone needs to lobby their legislators to postpone implementation of the act until a comprehensive nationwide study can be completed.

Costello explained that if coastal real estate values ultimately decrease because home sales decrease that will only push the insurance and tax increase pain into the uplands. In the end, everyone will be impacted by the disruption in federally subsidized flood insurance, she explained.

Mattapoisett’s Flood Plan Advisory Committee has just begun. They recently held their first meeting since being organized. Their role will be to work closely with all other coastal community committees, to lobby legislators for a postponement, and to keep the public informed. They cannot, however, effect change: They can only work in tandem with other community groups to pressure state and federal officials on behalf of the towns they represent.

Mattapoisett’s Flood Plain Advisory Committee will meet on February 6 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm in the town hall. Bobola and Costello both urge the public to attend this meeting. Residents can also contact Zingarelli directly at Richard.Zingarelli@state.ma.us or 617-626-1406.

By Marilou Newell

The members of the Marion Planning Board came together on a snowy, blizzard-watch Tuesday evening, to hold their meeting at the Marion Town House to discuss the master plan for the town, going into the future.

On the agenda was the idea of hiring a part time planner to start the effort on how the town will proceed.

“The town of Rochester has started this process, and has made great strides,” said planning board member Norm Hills.  Hills noted in his comments that the town needs to plan for the future and can use Rochester’s efforts as one of many templates in how Marion should proceed.

Hills presented a proposed advertisement for a part time planner and asked for the approval of the board on the wording of the advertisement.  The board approved the wording of the advertisement.

A dialogue ensued with member Ted North suggesting that the the board and town coordinate and hire a ‘town planner’ and share the cost.  North suggested that the Planning Board work with the Board of Selectmen in the planning process.

“What the town really needs is someone to procure grants that support the master plan for the town,” said member Ted North.

The board discussed and debated the issue and agreed that the town needed to be coordinated, but, for now, the Planning Board needed to get a part time qualified person on-board to help with town planning in the short run.  Board members said that the funds for a part time planner were available and that they wanted to proceed now rather than coordinate an effort with the Board of Selectmen.

In other business, the board heard from Brian Grady of GAF Engineering on behalf of Saltbox Properties LLC regarding properties located on lots at 22 Kabeyun Road.  At issue were lot lines that had not been surveyed since the 1920’s when ‘meets and bounds’ were done by sight.  Only two sides, the southern and the northern had recorded plans.  Mr. Grady asked the board to agree to the boundaries to the east and west of the two lots, which are commonly owned and are to be joined into one lot.

At first, the board questioned the application.  “Are we setting legal bounds on this property by voting on this?” asked board member Ted North.  Grady explained that no buildable lots were being created and no parcels were being conveyed and the purpose of the Approval Not Required request was to finalize the undefined lot lines and register them with the Plymouth Land Court.  Member Norm Hills noted that the parcels have a ‘for sale’ sign on them currently.

After much discussion, the board voted to approve the plans as presented.

Next up was a discussion of storm water calculations, as used by the Planning Board currently.  Member Norm Hills presented a handout to board members which noted that the storm water run-off calculations currently used reflect old data and represent lots that encompass large parcels of land.  Hills suggested that the board consider data that reflects a standard that is more applicable to smaller parcels, which reflect more of Marion’s basic residential nature.  Board members complimented Hills for his work on the handout which detailed the age of the standards and updated data on rainfall as studied by the Northeast Climate Center.

After much discussion on the rain water run-off handout, the board agreed to have the town engineer, Field Engineering, review the current by-law and consider the Planning Board’s idea of adapting another, more up to date, rainwater runoff standard.

By Joan Hartnett-Barry