NORWAY — It took two tries, but the town’s floodplain ordinance has been accepted by the Maine State Planning Office.
The action means that Norway has meet the requirement to continue participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, which offers flood insurance and disaster assistance. It also ensures that property owners will be able to get the required flood insurance on any federally-backed loan through a banking institution.
Passage of a new flood plain management ordinance had to be made by July 7 after the Federal Emergency Management Agency rejected the one approved in June at annual town meeting because of problems with map names and dates.
“We worked hard on it this year and thanks to everyone’s efforts, we are compliant,” said Town Manager David Holt.
The first plan was rejected, Holt said, because the previous ordinance was written based on an early draft provided by FEMA. When the agency made further changes, it made the approved ordinance noncompliant.
Special town meeting voters approved the amended ordinance by a vote of 7-0 on July 7 just an hour before the deadline.
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