Groundwater Protection Committee presents one-year strategic plan, emphasizes education and data

The Groundwater Protection Committee presented a draft strategic plan to the Town Council on Sept. 15 outlining a one-year pilot focused on public education, resident engagement and data-driven recommendations.

Cynthia Roberts, committee chair, and Beth Newbury, vice chair, said the plan distills public meetings, a Department of Health mini grant-funded needs assessment and expert presentations on private well testing into a concise document intended to inform the council and planning board. The committee described the plan as an initial, transparent framework: the enabling ordinance that created the committee is reproduced in the packet, and the strategic plan is meant to be accessible to residents and officials alike.

Key elements and process

- Education: The committee identified public education as a primary objective and plans to bring experts (such as private-well testing specialists) to public meetings.

- Engagement and communications: The committee has used press releases (noting the Valley Breeze as a useful outlet), social media, the town website and town newsletter to publicize events. A committee logo was created as part of the Department of Health mini grant.

- Data-driven work and reporting: The committee plans to gather data to inform recommendations, issue at least one annual report, and make periodic updates to the council and planning board; the committee discussed a flexible cadence for updates, tentatively twice a year but open to quarterly or event-driven reports.

- Advisory role and advocacy: The committee emphasized that acting in an advisory capacity to the council is part of its enabling ordinance and said that compiling community concerns and presenting recommendations is not beyond the committee’s mandate.

Next steps

Committee members said they will seek feedback from councilors and planning-board staff, continue community outreach (including a booth at Pumpkin Fest) and finalize the document as a one-year pilot to be revisited and adjusted.

Ending

Councilors asked clarifying questions about public outreach, the committee’s scope relative to its enabling ordinance and reporting cadence; the committee committed to follow up with the council and planning board as it finalizes the pilot plan.