HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainable Lexington Committee - SLC - Charge Revised August 2019 Sustainable Lexington Committee
Members: 9
Appointed by: Selectmen
Length of Term: 3 years, staggered
Appointments Made: September 30
Meeting Times: As posted
Description: The Sustainable Lexington Committee will advise the Board of Selectmen
on proposals that affect Lexington's sustainability and resilience and will recommend,
develop, and monitor programs designed to enhance Lexington's long-term sustainability
and resilience in response to environmental, resource, and energy challenges. The
Committee will focus its efforts on Town,residential and commercial assets,programs
and activities.
The Sustainable Lexington Committee will:
1. Recommend sustainability policies, goals, and standards; and priorities for
implementation;
2. Recommend ways to enhance energy conservation and use of renewable energy
throughout the Town's commercial, residential, and municipal sectors (including
municipal and school buildings, street lights, vehicles, and equipment). This
should include strategies to monitor and measure energy procurement, use and
costs for the municipal sector;
3. Develop and recommend programs required to meet the Town's sustainability
policies, goals, and standards;
4. Monitor and measure effectiveness of sustainability programs undertaken by the
town;
5. Educate and raise awareness among Lexington residents regarding Lexington's
sustainability and resilience;
6. Review and provide recommendations regarding proposals put before the Board
of Selectmen and Town Meeting that affect Lexington's sustainability and
resilience;
7. Coordinate with other relevant boards, committees and Town Departments on
sustainability issues to enhance effectiveness and avoid redundancy;
8. Monitor state and local issues that affect Lexington's ability to achieve its
sustainability policies, goals, and standards and recommend actions to support
priority issues; and
9. Perform other related projects as may be requested by the Board of Selectmen.
Membership: The Sustainable Lexington Committee will be made up of nine voting
members, each of whom is expected to have specific areas of responsibility and, in
addition, be aware of overall challenges. The committee will periodically solicit
participation from other non-voting individuals ("team members") with skills and
expertise to complete discrete projects required to achieve the committee's objectives.
Criteria for Membership: Committee members and team members shall be selected
based on the following highly desirable criteria for membership:
1. Built environment technical expertise including:
a. Buildings
b. Energy systems
c. Transportation
d. Water infrastructure
e. Waste prevention and management
2. Land use technical expertise including:
a. Food supply and agriculture
b. Native and invasive species management
c. Ground water management
3. Community organization and development experience
a. Education & awareness campaigns
b. Effective political advocacy
c. Economic impacts
4. Strong communication, writing,presentation and computer skills
5. Demonstrated track record of effective collaboration
6. Strong team management skills (esp. committee members)
Committee members and team members will be assigned to act as liaisons with other
town committees.
Prior to serving as a member of this Committee, appointees are required to:
1. Acknowledge receipt of the Summary of the Conflict of Interest Statute.
Further, to continue to serve on the Committee the member must acknowledge
annually receipt of the Summary of the Conflict of Interest Statute. Said
summary will be provided by and acknowledged to the Town Clerk.
2. Provide evidence to the Town Clerk that the appointee has completed the on-
line training requirement required by the Conflict of Interest statute. Further,
to continue to serve on the Committee, the member must acknowledge every
two years completion of the on-line training requirement.
Conduct of Committee meetings: Committee meetings will be conducted formally with
the chair receiving reports from committee members and team members. The chair will
recognize speakers and follow a defined agenda that will include an opportunity to
propose new business.
Staff. The Town staff member responsible for sustainable initiatives shall be a permanent
liaison to the Committee. Liaisons may also include representatives from the Department
of Public Works, Department of Public Facilities, Board of Selectmen, and School
Committee, as relevant.
Ref.: Charge adopted on June 21, 2010.
Member designated as Special Municipal Employees by the Board of Selectmen
on June 21, 2010.
Selectmen approved revising charge on April 22, 2013 to change the membership
from 5-7 members to 7 members.
Selectmen approved revising charge on August 5, 2019, changing membership
from 7 to 9 Members, adding a Town Staff Liaison and adding Town energy
management.