More than 50 residents came together on January 19 for lively conversation about challenges and opportunities for New Gloucester centering on the theme “How climate resilient is New Gloucester?”
The gathering was organized by the Environmental Resources Committee (ERC) and led by Rachel Lyn Rumson of 207permaculture, the town’s consultant-partner as New Gloucester participates in a statewide climate resilience initiative. Locally, the project has the blessing of the Select Board and support from town staff as well as the ERC.
Thursday evening’s two-hour event included presentations and small-group discussion, along with reflection and sharing, and represented one step in an ongoing process of community engagement, planning and prioritization that is expected to culminate in a grant application for local climate-related projects.
Consultant Rumson, a New Gloucester resident, framed the undertaking as “listening to what’s relevant to New Gloucester and what’s possible in New Gloucester.” With climate change the backdrop, she provided prompts to jump-start small-group discussion at the meeting. Groups were scrambled midway to increase opportunities for participants to exchange views and hear multiple perspectives.
Attendees took to the task and had plenty to say. A plethora of Post-Its shared on a vestry wall reflected a broad range of points. But some recurring topics emerged: concerns for locally-produced energy, preparing for extreme storms and drought, housing and transportation needs and options, and public awareness, education and involvement, among others.
The January 19 listening session will be followed by further meetings, consultations with subject matter experts, and conversations with local stakeholders and groups, all in service of developing a plan closely attuned to local needs and goals.
Along with New Gloucester, neighbors Durham and Gray are participating in the state’s Community Resilience Partnership and working with Rumson and 207permaculture, making possible conversations and collaborations across the three communities. Members from Durham Conservation got a jump on that collaboration by coming to New Gloucester and helping put on Thursday’s event.
While the goals of the climate resilience initiative may be to develop a needs assessment/action plan and secure a no-match grant from the State to fund the projects that result, the process is also the point. A key element of that process is community members coming together to listen, learn and share – all very much in evidence at the January 19 meeting hosted by ERC.
— Joanne Cole
