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Kennebunk climate committee weighs smoke-detector ordinance, wetlands guidance and community preparedness
Summary
At its Jan. 12 meeting the Kennebunk Climate Action Committee discussed funding cots and Knox boxes, drafted language to require interconnected smoke detectors, debated how wetlands and zoning fit into a 2026 work plan, and planned public outreach including a Jan. 24 community event and GHG inventory release.
The Kennebunk Climate Action Committee on Jan. 12 approved its December minutes and spent much of the meeting shaping a 2026 work plan that mixes emergency-preparedness projects with land-use and outreach priorities.
Committee member Josh Tabor moved to approve the December minutes and Mike McAtamney seconded; the motion carried. The committee then turned to updates from members about community preparedness and ordinance work.
David Lounsbury reported he has pricing information for cots and has drafted proposed language to strengthen the town’s smoke-detector rules, including a requirement for modern, interconnected smoke alarms. ‘‘The current ordinance has no language regarding interconnection,’’ David said, and he noted the town does not have a local carbon-monoxide detector ordinance while the state has CO requirements. Lee Jay Feldman, identified in the meeting roster as the committee liaison, asked who would enforce any new ordinance; Feldman said town enforcement follows MUBEC and that the fire department enforces National Fire Protection Association standards. Lisa Pratt, identified as a Selectboard member, cautioned the committee to consider cost impacts on homeowners.
Members also discussed fundraising and operational questions tied to preparedness supplies. Mike McAtamney and David Lounsbury signed up for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and David and Josh discussed fundraising for cots, smoke detectors and educational materials tied to KNOX boxes. Committee members asked where cots would be stored and how they would be used, and whether existing volunteer networks (for example, lists used by Meals on Wheels) could be leveraged for welfare checks.
The committee debated shelter capacity and staffing. Lisa Pratt said the town has no overnight warming center; the Kennebunk Free Library (KFL) is often closed and available only during business hours. The meeting noted that shelters differ from warming centers and that Chief Cooper manages shelters; staff availability could be a conflict during an emergency. York County Emergency can help set up a shelter but will not provide shelter staffing or supplies, and West Kennebunk Fire Department could house a small number of people.
On land use, Josh Tabor raised the question of how active the CAC should be in wetlands and zoning discussions. Lee Jay Feldman recommended an educational tutorial on applicable ordinances, outlining that wetlands are classified in three classes and that a wetland specialist is often required; he warned that a full zoning rewrite could cost about $100,000. Lisa Pratt suggested not every change requires an ordinance and recommended using policy approaches and SMPDC support, while routing formal requests through Feldman.
Members agreed outreach should be a priority. Lisa Pratt urged the CAC to lead communication of the town’s greenhouse-gas inventory—two years of data—working with town staff and SMPDC to publish results on the town website, produce a pamphlet and push messages by email and social media. Mike McAtamney suggested inviting experts, such as Dr. Pam Morgan, for coastal resiliency input.
The committee also prepared to staff a public event: Alison Malmqvist briefed members on the Jan. 24 Connecting Kennebunk event and the need to include a disclaimer on agendas when multiple committee members attend.
The meeting closed with members sharing resources, including a wetlands planting pamphlet and a link to sustainablecitycode.org subchapters, and adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
