Concord task force debates risk-communication approach ahead of Select Board briefing

Task force members spent substantial time on a proposed risk-communication plan in Chapter 13, debating whether to include a detailed, locally tailored annex or retain a shorter, principle-based plan and append more operational material for Select Board or staff implementation.

Pam Hill said the draft felt "a little condescending" toward local environmental stakeholders and proposed an annex that would tailor messaging, site visits and public forums for specific Concord audiences. "I think our biggest risk communication target is actually the Select Board," Pam Hill said, and suggested an annex with concrete outreach steps and messaging adapted to local concerns.

Speaker 6 (the group's risk-communication adviser) defended the general plan and said more specific tactics could be appended. He recommended recognizing and addressing the roots of community concerns and treating relationship challenges strategically: "Risk communication is not just educating people...it requires understanding where your relationship challenges are and taking steps to deal with them directly."

The group agreed to circulate Pam Hill's annex for review and to incorporate selected language by red-line at the next meetings. Members also agreed the plan should be practical and not overly prescriptive: the task force will provide the framework and the Select Board or designated staff would carry out implementation.

The task force scheduled further review of the risk-communication chapter and agreed to send red-line edits to the chair prior to the next meeting so an updated draft can be presented to the Select Board.