The meeting delved into an extensive presentation on the importance of floodplain management, highlighting the tangible benefits of participating in the CRS program. The coordinator provided detailed insights on the integration of floodplain management regulations with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the forerunner floodplain platform that Highlands has implemented. This platform offers site-specific flood information, which is important for residents and investors to make informed decisions. The coordinator also clarified the process of obtaining NFIP credits and insurance discounts, noting the importance of accuracy in the elevation certificates—which are vital for FEMA compliance.

The discussion further revealed that all elevation certificates obtained thus far contained errors, which FEMA would not accept. To address this, the council mentioned ongoing efforts to engage homeowners to secure accurate certificates. A new floodplain permitting review process and form that meets FEMA standards were also discussed, including a 10-year look back on property improvements. The identification and management of properties with substantial improvements, open permits, and violations in the floodplain were also considered essential for maintaining community resilience and equalizing flood protection.

The council discussed the National Violation Tracker and the CRS activities, which are instrumental in managing floodplain properties. The importance of using FEMA-approved floodproof materials in construction projects was mentioned, as well as the user-friendly nature of the flood information page provided to the community. The potential implications of not addressing violations were highlighted, including increased insurance costs for homeowners. The meeting also included discussions about ongoing communication with FEMA’s Region 2 regarding properties that failed to comply with funding conditions for demolition and elevation, stressing the importance of precise language in communications with property owners.

Furthermore, the council touched on a pilot program to address national violation properties in collaboration with other townships and the need for maintaining accurate records. Questions arose regarding the accuracy of manual entries in the floodplain platform, prompting a discussion on error checking and algorithms to identify errors in elevation certificates. The council also discussed the Bay Avenue Redevelopment area and its properties’ compliance.

Moving on from floodplain management, the meeting addressed the coordination and planning for an upcoming event, “Roaring on the Highlands,” which involves boat races on the Shrewsbury River. The event is designed to have smaller boats circle in a smaller area and larger boats venture towards the Willow Marina. This event is anticipated to be significant for the community, pending final approval from the Coast Guard.

Updates from the mayor included fundraising efforts at local schools, the start of spring sports, and emergency services responses. The building department reported on inspections and permits, while the Department of Public Works continued upkeep of public spaces. The mayor also provided an update on the sanitary sewer project and other construction projects.

During the public portion of the meeting, a resident raised concerns about runoff water from a neighboring property leading to erosion issues, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by community members in relation to environmental concerns.