Sustainability Committee

Goals and Initiatives

The Sustainability Committee will be a Board of Selectmen-appointed Committee with the following goals:

• Promote transparency on sustainability goals within municipal and school projects, and educate the public on climate change, emissions, natural resource conservation, and energy
   
• Partner with community members, businesses, nonprofits, and the Commonwealth to protect natural resources, improve health and quality of life within Dover, and advance state sustainability goals.
   
• Encourage residents and businesses to adopt measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving climate resilience, and conserving natural resources; and advise on implementing projects to accomplish these goals. 

Definition of Sustainability

The Sustainability Committee will use the UN’s definition of sustainability as its north star and interpret it to fit with Dover’s specific situations. In this definition, sustainability is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” 

Structure

The Sustainability Committee will have nine (9) full members, one (1) non-voting liaison to the Selectmen, and two (2) non-voting roles for Town Staff - the Town Administrator, or their designee, and the Town Planner or their designee:

• One voting member appointed by Capital Budget Committee
• One voting member appointed by Recycling Committee
• One voting member appointed by the School Committee
• One voting member appointed by the Conservation Commission
• One voting member appointed by Planning Board
• Two voting members-at-large
• Two voting student members-at-large
• One non-voting liaison to the Selectmen
• Two Staff members - Town Administrator and Town Planner (or their designees)

Student members must live in Dover and be at least 14+ years of age. If necessary, the Sustainability Committee will request that the Selectmen waive the requirement for appointed officials to be registered voters, which is allowed under Dover’s General Bylaw Section 4-1 on a case-by-case basis.

Terms

Voting members will serve a rotating 3 year terms, with the exception of student members who will serve 1 to 2 year terms at their request. The Selectmen liaison will have a 1 year term. Committees may appoint their representative member for between 1, 2, or 3 years at their discretion.

The two members at large will be appointed by the Selectmen the first year such that their terms do not expire in the same year.

Roles

The Committee will have a voting Chair, voting Vice-Chair, and a voting Secretary, all rotating. Each role has a 1 year term. The intention is that Vice-Chair shall be appointed as Chair following their term as Vice-Chair. 

The Chair is responsible for planning agenda, facilitating constructive meetings, and working to ensure the Committee meets its goals. The Vice-Chair’s role is to support the Chair and prepare for taking over the following year. The Secretary is responsible for ensuring that meeting minutes and agendas are posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law.

Members