At the Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday night, Town Planner Ken Buckland got the Selectmen’s blessing to work towards a certification that would lower flood insurance rates.

The Community Rating System, managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), rewards communities that are actively working to reduce the risks of flooding.

Communities are rated on a scale based on a point system. About 80 percent of communities involved in the program receive 10 or 15 percent discounts on flood insurance.

Currently, the town is working on creating a flood management plan, paid for by a state grant. First, the town inventoried potential problems caused by flooding and the risks to infrastructure. Using that information, the town can work to mitigate the cost to the town and townspeople of flood recovery.

Another step to reduce insurance rates is measuring the elevation of buildings in town and keeping that information on record. Buckland explained that while the town will do the work, homeowners will get the benefit.

The board voted unanimously in favor of allowing Buckland to pursue certification.