During the Nov. 15 meeting of the Select Board, the Harvard Climate Initiative Committee presented its finalized draft of a climate action plan. After a spirited back-and-forth, where several Select Board members pushed for more time to review the content, the board moved to adopt the draft during its next meeting, Dec. 6.
The climate action plan is an initiative of the committee, which identifies climate change challenges relevant to Harvard. The report is organized into seven areas that play a significant role in mitigating the effects of climate change. Within those areas are goals to mitigate and adapt to those effects.
The goals and actions were first presented in a September Select Board meeting and public feedback period; target dates, metrics, and responsibilities have since been added to the plan. The climate committee also sought multiple rounds of input from the stakeholder committees. “The people who are involved, were involved,” said Ellen Sachs Leicher, committee chair.
On Tuesday evening, Sachs Leicher and committee member Jefferson Burson walked Select Board members through these developments and responded to comments.
“We are trying to seek Select Board adoption. Climate is a serious problem, as most of you know. We want to move on to implementation,” said Sachs Leicher. She emphasized that 2023 grants are becoming available, and having a formally supported climate action plan would greatly bolster applications for federal and state resources.
“The metrics and the days are tentative,” Burson said. “The climate action plan is meant to be a living document. This is a start to the work and not necessarily an end.”
Board needs more time
With no further commentary, Select Board member Charles Oliver moved to adopt the plan as written, acknowledging that amendments could be made later if timeframes shift. Member Kara Minar seconded the motion.
Chair Rich Maiore and member Don Ludwig noted that they would like more time before voting to adopt the plan. Town administrators also needed more time to review the document, Maiore said. “I don’t see the rush,” Ludwig said. “I think we’re all in agreement, we support this. Let’s just make sure we have everything right before we go on the record as a board.”
“This is a pretty comprehensive document that touches numerous departments and numerous committees. Town Hall staff has not had enough time to look at it. … All the hard work deserves some attention. And some tough questions … to make sure that we’ve critically assessed this document and gone forth,” Maiore said.
Select Board member Erin McBee asked whether new recommendations or content had been added to the plan since September, when the climate committee last appeared before the board. Maiore noted that there appeared to be a new recommendation for an environmental assessment process for town projects and warrant articles. Sachs Leicher said the recommendation was in the resolution approved by the October 2021 Town Meeting.
“The town voting on it and it becoming action are two separate things,” Maiore responded. Oliver moved again to “accept the report as written.” Minar seconded it, and the discussion continued.
McBee asked whether there were upcoming grant applications needing this approval. Sachs Leicher said there were no close deadlines but emphasized that during the next Select Board meeting the committee would seek a vote on this draft and on an implementation plan to remain on schedule for 2023 grants.
Resident and former Select Board member Lucy Wallace asked which town departments had not yet had a chance to review the draft, considering that relevant committees had been hands-on in the process. “You can’t ignore the town resolution. It was voted on at the Town Meeting and it was nearly unanimous,” she added.
“The town administrator [and] the assistant town administrator have not had enough time to go through it and identify where there could be unintended consequences,” Maiore said. “I think we need to respect that.”
Decisions to be made at next meeting
The Select Board voted on Oliver’s second motion to accept the report as written. The motion failed with two “yes” votes and three “no” votes. McBee moved to revisit the plan and approve it during the board’s Dec. 6 meeting. All voted “yes.” Sachs Leicher asked permission to present the committee’s implementation plan as well at that meeting.
“The one goal right now is to get the plan over the finish line and get full support from the Select Board and administration,” Sachs Leicher said during a conversation with the Press. “That would be a step in the right direction.”
Aspects of the implementation plan hinge on Select Board guidance of town administration and committees. Their support is essential to begin working toward tangible actions, according to Sachs Leicher.
These developments will be defining the work of the Harvard Climate Initiative Committee in the coming months, said Sachs Leicher. Accessing the funding and resources available to Harvard, coordinating with town committees to make climate a core consideration in their decisions, and expanding awareness are all part of that work.
The educational element is perhaps the most critical and ambitious goal of all. “Starting with that climate focus on everyday things,” Sachs Leicher said, is important for homeowners and Harvard leadership.
