By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
Provided/From left, Anthony Edge, Steve Jasiecki and Bob Blumberg pose in front of the Salem Oak sapling planted near Ann Pancoast Dog Park in Margate.
MARGATE The city shared good news Thursday that it has maintained its current Class 5 rating in the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System.
The CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements.
At the Jan. 19 Board of Commissioners meeting, Acting Administrator Richard Deaney congratulated and thanked city employees Jim Galantino, Palma Shiles, Gina Okoorian, Roger McLarnon and Edward McGrath for their work to maintain the designation, which will continue to provide residents with a 25% discount on the cost of their flood insurance.
Deaney said the discounts amount to millions of dollars saved for Margate property owners.
This is no small effort for the requirements are rigorous, Deaney said.
The city garnered 2,615 points for 17 different activities meeting all the pre-requisites to maintain the Class 5 rating.
Activities include having construction management procedures, community outreach, providing residents with technical assistance regarding flood insurance, floodplain management, open space preservation, having higher regulatory standards, a repetitive loss inventory, and drainage system maintenance, among others. The city is also part of the Atlantic County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Deaney said the city will continue to work on initiatives that can help improve the city's rating.
The rating is based on the total number of points awarded in 10 CRS classes, ranging from Class 10, which provides no discount on flood insurance premiums, to Class 1, which provides a 45% discount.
Longport and Ventnor also enjoy a Class 5 rating.
The board also heard a yearly progress report on the activities of Sustainable Margate. Chairman Steve Jasiecki said the green team established 10 years ago has raised awareness about the fragile nature of the shore's unique environment.
The city was awarded Sustainable Jersey Bronze certification in 2021 for accomplishing sustainability goals, including providing information about the environment at numerous community events, protecting the Great Egg Harbor River estuary, collecting plastic products that were recycled into Trex building materials, educating the public to stay away from seals resting on the beach, and building and maintaining a demonstration garden next to the Municipal Building to encourage residents to plant native species of plants and trees.
The team has also planted trees on Arbor Day each year, including planting a sapling from the Mighty Salem live oak tree, held paper shredding and recycling days, and participated in semi-annual beach sweeps.
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