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Groton, MA 01450

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Sustainability Commission

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About

Preamble: Many of the effects of the worsening global climate crisis are already evident in our region and in the town of Groton and are growing. This increases the urgency of the Commission’s role in helping guide and act as a resource for the Town that balances our environmental sustainability with maintaining our economic and social vitality.


Purpose: The purpose of the Sustainability Commission is to focus and coordinate the Town’s sustainability efforts and to provide guidance and expertise for the Town to become a measurably more sustainable community.


Responsibilities: The responsibilities of the Commission encompass assisting all generations of residents, town agencies and boards in the planning and implementation of their activities in a way that maximizes preservation of natural resources, including climate, and integrates climate resilience and adaptation where appropriate


Those include:

● Providing sustainability materials and advice to influence Town plans, policies, operations, and bylaws to ensure that increasing sustainability and resilience to climate change is a guiding principle.
● Identifying key resources and finding and developing deep expertise in the key aspects of community sustainability and climate resilience.
● Raising awareness regarding the challenges of climate change and actions that could/should be taken for the public and Town officials and boards through outreach, education, and involvement.
● Developing a clearinghouse of useful sustainability/resilience information and pointers to other experts for use by Town officials and residents
● Identifying key sustainability metrics for Groton, measuring them to monitor progress, and providing recommendations to Town officials for meeting State requirements and Town goals.
● Identifying potential Federal, State, Regional, and private funding opportunities for projects to further the Town’s sustainability efforts and helping prepare the grant applications for them.
● Collaborating with neighboring communities and regional partnerships to help further our progress toward sustainability, as well as other initiatives.
In the course of its work, the Sustainability Commission will establish specific programs to support these responsibilities, and the Commission will prepare and provide an Annual Report to inform the Town of the Commission's activities, accomplishments, and how well the Town is progressing toward its sustainable community goals.

Legal Authority

Local:
Approved by the Groton Select Board, August 14, 2023

Contact Information

Email: sustaining@grotonma.gov
Phone: 978-448-1111
Website: www.grotonma.gov
Members: 12
Selection: Appointed
Term In Years: 1
Remuneration: None

Members

Alison Dolbear Peterson
Alison Dolbear Peterson
Term Start: 2023-07-01
Term End: 2024-06-30
Bruce Easom
Bruce Easom
Term Start: 2023-07-01
Term End: 2024-06-30
Charlotte Weigel
Charlotte Weigel
Vice Chair
Term Start: 2023-07-01
Term End: 2024-06-30
David Southwick
David Southwick
Term Start: 2023-07-01
Term End: 2024-06-30
James Allen
James Allen
Term Start: 2023-07-01
Term End: 2024-06-30
Jim Simko
Jim Simko
Term Start: 2023-07-01
Term End: 2024-06-30
Ken Horton
Ken Horton
Term Start: 2023-12-05
Term End: 2024-06-30
Linda Loren
Linda Loren
Term Start: 2023-12-05
Term End: 2024-06-30
Patrick Parker-Roach
Patrick Parker-Roach
Term Start: 2023-07-01
Term End: 2024-06-30
Phil Francisco
Phil Francisco
Term Start: 2023-07-01
Term End: 2024-06-30
Sue Fitterman
Sue Fitterman
Alternate Member
Term Start: 2023-12-05
Term End: 2024-06-30
Virginia (Ginger) Vollmar
Virginia (Ginger) Vollmar
Term Start: 2023-07-01
Term End: 2024-06-30

Sustainability Commission Documents

    1. Sustainable_Committee_Community_Study_2013-03-13_Agenda_5.pdf
    2. Sustainable_Committee_Community_Study_2013-03-13_Agenda_4.pdf
    3. Sustainable_Committee_Community_Study_2013-03-13_Agenda_1.pdf
    4. Sustainable_Committee_Community_Study_2008-12-09_Agenda.pdf
    5. Sustainable_Committee_Community_Study_2008-12-09_Agenda_A.pdf
    6. Sustainable_Committee_Community_Study_2008-11-18_Agenda.pdf
    7. Sustainable_Committee_Community_Study_2008-09-08_Agenda.pdf
    8. Sustainable_Committee_Community_Study_2008-08-26_Agenda.pdf
    9. Sustainable_Committee_Community_Study_2008-01-28_Agenda.pdf
    10. Sustainable_Committee_Community_Study_2008-01-14_Agenda.pdf
    1. Groton_GHG_inventory_baseline_2019_link.pdf
    1. Sustainability_Commission_ARTICLE_2008-02-25.pdf
    1. Sustainability_Committee_Notes_2008-09-22.pdf
    1. Sustainability_Commission_approved_minutes_2024-02-05_id-14898.pdf
    2. Sustainability_Commission_approved_minutes_2024-01-16_id-14816.pdf
    3. Sustainability_Commission_approved_minutes_2024-01-04_id-14729.pdf
    4. Sustainability_Commission_approved_minutes_2023-11-28_id-14667.pdf
    5. Sustainability_Commission_approved_minutes_2023-10-30_id-14569.pdf
    6. Sustainability_Commission_approved_minutes_2023-09-19_id-14434.pdf
    7. Sustainability_Commission_approved_minutes_2023-08-30_id-14354.pdf
    8. Sustainability_Commission_approved_minutes_2023-08-15_id-14319.pdf
    9. Sustainability_Commission_approved_minutes_2023-06-20_id-14165.docx
    10. Sustainability_Commission_approved_minutes_2023-05-16_id-14088.docx
    11. Access additional meeting minutes and agendas at the Meeting Center
    1. Sustainability_Seminars_Speaker_Bio's_[Google_Doc].pdf
    2. Sustainability_Seminars_Draft_Curriculum_[Google_Doc].pdf
    3. Sustainability_Seminars_Additional_Information_[Google_Doc].pdf
  1. Why_Sustainability.pdf
  2. What_is_a_Sustainable_Community.pdf
  3. Sustainability_News_April_2022.pdf
  4. Sustainability_Liaison_Letter.pdf
  5. Sustainability_Committee_WorkGroups_2008-08-07.pdf
  6. Sustainability_Committee_Profile_.pdf
  7. Sustainability_Commission_Mission_2022-10-18.pdf
  8. Sustainability_Commission_CHARGE_08-14-23.pdf
  9. Disolution_Letter.pdf
Upcoming Public Meetings