CLARKSBURG -- Selectmen are taking steps to be included in the Berkshire Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, which identifies natural hazards and ways to minimize their impacts.
Lindsay Errichetto, a planner for the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, said at Wednesday's meeting of the Selectmen that Clarksburg is one of six towns in the county to be added to the plan.
"My hope is to receive input from selectmen about the material, and hopefully receive approval of it in draft form," she said.
Errichetto said 19 other towns have already adopted the plan, which identifies natural hazards, existing protections against those hazards and action plans communities can implement.
According to the commission's website, other towns working to join the plan are Cheshire, Hinsdale, Mount Washington, New Ashford and West Stockbridge.
Errichetto presented selectmen with a draft document, which she said was created after a work group with town representatives was held on Jan. 21.
According to the draft document, there are several flood-prone areas in town due to the elevation of Florida Mountain to the east, including East Road, several areas along Houghton Street and multiple areas along Carson Avenue. Currently, there are four commercial, four industrial and 56 residential buildings within the 100-year floodplain, the draft states.
Chairman Carl McKinney took issue with the draft's stating the town is at a "relatively
"They have not touched it, logged it, cleaned it or done anything to it since at least 1973," he said.
McKinney said in his opinion, the risk is fairly high, considering hikers having campfires, and fallen trees and low brush in the forest.
Selectmen also questioned the draft's reference to a bridge on Spring Street needing structural repairs. No such road exists in town, McKinney said. He suggested the work group was referring to the School Street bridge. In addition, the document references the Briggsville Dam as a significant hazard, McKinney said, but the dam was removed several years ago.
Errichetto told selectmen she will make revisions according to the board's input, and return to the board at an upcoming meeting.
In other business, Town Manager Thomas Webb told the board he has reached out to McCann Technical School for help with creating a town website. Webb said he hopes a student can make the site during the next school year as a special project. He added that this effort would create the website at a minimal cost to the town.
To reach Edward Damon, email
edamon@thetranscript.com.
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