Staff seeks committee help updating decarbonization roadmap and five‑year climate action plan

Town staff told the Climate Action Committee that the town must produce a municipal decarbonization roadmap to meet Green Communities/Climate Leaders program requirements and that the committee’s support will be important in shaping scope, public engagement and possible consultant assistance. The staff update identified three priorities: the decarbonization roadmap (municipal building energy analyses), updating the five‑year Climate Action & Resilience Plan (to reflect new greenhouse‑gas targets and the recent GHG inventory) and improving sustainability web content.

Staff requested volunteers from the committee to help define the work plan and to identify where external technical assistance may be needed; several members volunteered to form a small working group and to explore potential funding (including Green Communities technical assistance and FY26 budget requests). The committee discussed whether a consultant is required for detailed building‑by‑building analysis and public engagement, and noted that the timeline for budget requests means decisions about consultant support should be made this fall.

Members agreed to draft an outline before the October meeting, to discuss public engagement tactics, and to identify what parts the volunteer committee could do versus what would need professional support. Staff said investment‑grade audits for municipal buildings are being pursued and would inform the roadmap, and asked for committee input on how to sequence the work and measure progress.