A central topic was the committee’s objective to transition from broad public forums to more targeted focus group discussions involving municipal staff and volunteers. This shift aims to refine community engagement strategies, allowing for more specific feedback on the climate action plan. A survey conducted via a QR code linked to Survey Monkey has already gathered around 55 responses, and the committee aims to increase this number by at least 100 before the survey ends in October. To boost participation, there was an initiative to distribute flyers in local restaurants.

The committee’s climate action plan aims to address skepticism and opposition by clearly articulating the necessity of the plan and how it is funded primarily through grants, avoiding direct budgetary strain on the town. Members noted the importance of preparing responses to potential public skepticism and opposition to funding specific initiatives. The committee also discussed the plan’s overarching goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and emphasized tailoring objectives to Townsend’s specific context.

A vision was shared to transform the downtown area into a hub of resilience, potentially utilizing renewable energy sources and establishing designated cooling centers for emergencies. This would ensure community locations, like libraries and senior centers, serve as support centers during crises such as power outages or natural disasters. However, the lack of officially designated cooling centers within the town was identified as an area needing attention.

In addition to climate-focused initiatives, the committee addressed the current status of the town’s master plan. Recent interactions with the planning board resulted in approved changes that will be incorporated into a new document, rather than appending them to the existing plan. This approach aims to more comprehensively reflect the agreed-upon modifications, with confidence expressed that the editing process will be manageable.

The committee also acknowledged the need for updates to their webpage, as the current site does not accurately represent ongoing activities. They discussed collaborating with town staff for website updates, ultimately deciding to draft an outline for desired changes. Jack Corey from the clerk’s office clarified their role as webmasters and expressed willingness to assist with updates, contingent upon receiving necessary information from the committee.

A concern was raised regarding the organization and accessibility of meeting minutes, with many records missing from the website. Efforts are underway to standardize file names and focus on organizing recent meetings, while seeking guidance on document organizational standards from the clerk’s office.

The committee noted confusion surrounding the allocation of $3,000 for administrative costs and responsibilities related to the MRPC contracts. The need for clear communication and timely execution of these contracts was emphasized, with plans for a kickoff meeting to reinforce these priorities.