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Concord Climate Action Committee sets schedule, approves February minutes and raises staffing concerns for climate action plan work
Summary
Committee handled routine business (meeting schedule, membership interest, and approval of February minutes) and spent significant time discussing the upcoming departure/reorganization of sustainability staff and how the committee will sustain work on the Climate Action Plan and program delivery.
Committee business: The Climate Action Committee set its next meeting dates (April meeting scheduled for April 22, with a May meeting to consider chair selection and other business), approved the February minutes, and discussed membership and clerk responsibilities.
On minutes and membership: Committee member Brad moved to approve the February minutes; a second was recorded and the minutes were approved. Members discussed adding an “action items” section to minutes to make follow-up clearer. Several residents expressed interest in joining the committee; one visitor, Shelly Carlin, introduced herself and described volunteer environmental work in town.
Staffing and Climate Action Plan concerns: Committee members spent substantial time on staffing and implementation questions after learning of an upcoming change in sustainability staffing. Members expressed concern about capacity loss if the sustainability director position changes and about how ongoing Climate Action Plan tasks will be completed. Committee members noted Article 51 (a prior town meeting article to create a sustainability director position) and said the committee expects continued town commitment to the Climate Action Plan but asked for clarity on who will be the town point(s) of contact during the staffing transition.
Members discussed consultant support, possible interns and redistributing responsibilities among town staff. Select Board liaison Wendy Rebelli encouraged the committee to document outstanding tasks and priorities that need to be funded or staffed. Committee members asked staff to request a meeting with town management to clarify staffing support and how major deliverables (such as the Climate Action Plan review and outreach) will be resourced.
Ending: Committee approved the minutes and agreed to continue work on the Climate Action Plan review; members asked staff to follow up with town management about staffing, ownership of outstanding actions, and interim support arrangements.
