Sustainability Advisory Committee

Mission: 

To guide the development of sustainability policies and practices for the Town of Exeter that simultaneously promote a healthy environment, strong community connections, and economic vitality; including the establishment of the Town of Exeter Sustainability Office.

If you have a question, comment, or idea for the committee, please click here to be taken to our feedback form. 
 

Committee Charge and Purpose:  

1. Advise and assist the Select Board on the establishment of a formal Sustainability Office pursuant to Exeter Town Warrant 2019, article 31.

2. Advise and support the Sustainability Office.

3. Define and publicize "Sustainability" within the context of current town operations.

4. Review and recommend sustainability related priorities and initiatives on proposed Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects and warrant articles.

5. Advise and coordinate with the Select Board, Town Manager, and all relevant town departments and committees in pursuit of grants and state and federal funds for sustainability initiatives.

6. Identify priority community partners and stakeholders in sustainability efforts, so the Sustainability Office/Coordinator and town officials can engage most effectively.

7. Establish communication plan to coordinate and engage with community partners and stakeholders in sustainability needs and initiatives.

8. Perform a 'gap analysis' of what Exeter has accomplished (both community and town government?) regarding sustainability efforts, and recommend what needs to be accomplished.

9. Produce an annual report to the Select Board encompassing the areas above and progress in each of these areas.

Membership:  

There is hereby established by the Select Board an eight (8) person Sustainability Advisory Committee

1 member of the Select Board
7 At Large Members (appointed by the Select Board)
Town Planner or their designee: Non-voting

At large members shall serve three-year staggered terms.  Initial appointments shall be made for 1, 2 and 3 year terms and thereafter be a 3-year term.

Adopted by the Exeter Select Board (as revised) September 23rd, 2019.

Updated February 5, 2024

2020 Sustainability Advisory Committee Supplemental Document to Charge:

Define and publicize 'Sustainability' in the context of current town operations:

The most commonly quoted definition of sustainability is from the 1987 'Our Common Future' (commonly referred to as The Brundtland Report), published by World Commission on Environment and Development.

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." (ref: The Brundtland Report, 1987

In Exeter, this means addressing the many urgent climate and environmental priorities cited in the Master Plan and raised by citizens, including:

• Climate change impacts - while rapidly reducing our emissions, we must simultaneously mitigate for impacts already occurring and increasing, including sea level rise, flooding, changing precipitation patterns, impacts on agriculture, etc.  This means incorporating new ways of operating from the macro to micro levels
• Pollution - visible and invisible - on land, and within our rivers, tributaries and estuary, including plastics, trash, toxic chemicals/pesticides, fertilizers, etc.
• Water Quality - for drinking, for wildlife, and for a healthy estuary that supports healthy marine ecosystems
• Air quality
• Maintaining and monitoring open spaces, conservation land, wetlands
• Sense of community - safe, walkable, hikeable, equitable, supportive of arts, music, local business, and a diverse inter-generational citizenry

SAC Near-time Agenda items (first 6-9 months):

1. Work with the Budget Committee to establish a line item in the 2020 town budget for the Sustainability Office/Coordinator based on Exeter specific research conducted in conjunction with town officials, boards and committees.  Provide guidance for alignment, core functions, personnel/job description/s, budget and expenses.
2. Engage with and advise town committees working on Capital Improvement Project (CIP) initiatives (ie Library Committee, Parks & Rec sustainable designs, etc.)
3. Establish role and protocol for official website and social media deployment by the SAC.  Post town accomplishments, along with the many areas where future action is needed, including indication of urgency and impact.
4. Draft Exeter vision and goals in coordination with energy & Conservation Committees