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Climate Smart Communities Certification Report

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bronze Certified

This is the Climate Smart Communities Certification Report of Dover, Town (Dutchess). Dover, Town (Dutchess) is a bronze certified Climate Smart Community.

Dover, Town (Dutchess) was certified on September 24, 2020 with 128 points earned from 16 completed actions. Listed below is information regarding Dover, Town (Dutchess)’s Climate Smart Communities efforts and materials associated with its certified actions.

The certification for Dover, Town (Dutchess) will expire on September 30, 2025.

Contact Information

The designated Climate Smart Communities contact for Dover, Town (Dutchess) is:

Name:Katie Palmer-House
Title:Clerk
Address:126 East Duncan Hill Road
Dover Plains, NY 12522

Actions Implemented

Each approved action and supporting documentation for which Dover, Town (Dutchess) was approved for in 2020 appears below. Note: Standards for the actions below may have changed and the documentation listed may no longer satisfy requirements for that action.

  • 1. Build a climate-smart community.

    1.1 Pass a Resolution Adopting the CSC Pledge

    4 Points

    Program Summary:

    PE1 Action: CSC Task Force

    20 Points
    Bronze Mandatory Silver Mandatory

    Program Summary: The Dover Climate Smart Task Force has established a webpage with information and resources on the Town of Dover's website: https://townofdoverny.us/ClimateSmart.cfm The 2017-2019 Climate Smart Dover Task Force meeting agendas and minutes are posted here: https://doverny.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/meetingsresponsive.aspx To review agenda and minutes, please choose "CAC/Climate Smart Dover Task Force" from drop down menu and then under "Meetings Within," select last year or enter "From" and "To" with dates of 1/1/2017 to 12/31/2017, 1/1/2018 to 12/31/2018 and 1/1/2019 to 12/31/2019. Dover is a legacy applicant. The attached documentation was originally submitted in 2017 under the old system (prior to the release of the CSC portal website in 2018).

    PE1 Action: CSC Coordinator

    10 Points
    Bronze Mandatory Silver Mandatory

    Program Summary: The Dover Climate Smart Task Force has established a webpage with information and resources on the Town of Dover's website: https://townofdoverny.us/ClimateSmart.cfm The 2017-2019 Climate Smart Dover Task Force meeting agendas and minutes are posted here: https://doverny.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/meetingsresponsive.aspx To review agenda and minutes, please choose "CAC/Climate Smart Dover Task Force" from drop down menu and then under "Meetings Within," select last year or enter "From" and "To" with dates of 1/1/2017 to 12/31/2017, 1/1/2018 to 12/31/2018 and 1/1/2019 to 12/31/2019. Dover is a legacy applicant. The attached documentation was originally submitted in 2017 under the old system (prior to the release of the CSC portal website in 2018).

    PE1 Action: National/Regional Climate Program

    3 Points

    Program Summary: In 2018, the Town joined ICLEI to support their international efforts to combat the negative impacts of climate change and renewed our membership in 2019. To complete our Govt. Operations Greenhouse Gas (Emissions) Inventory and Govt. Operations Climate Action Plan, our consultant utilized the ICLEI protocol for accounting of emissions. The Town has received technical assistance from the Mid-Hudson Regional CEC Coordinators at the Hudson Valley Regional Council since the launch of the CEC Program in 2016. In addition to completing the Energy Code Enforcement Training High Impact Action, HVRC staff provided support for and review of the Town's Climate Smart Communities Certification application.

    PE1 Action: Partnerships with Other Entities

    3 Points

    Program Summary: As the Town of Dover began working toward CSC certification, we contacted other communities such as Dobbs Ferry and Kingston that were invaluable resources in validating the benefits of achieving certification. However partnerships with other entities in the form of formal agreements and MOUs are not always feasible as town administrations often change over time. Since it seemed that the CSC Certification Program began more as a "movement" of environmentally committed municipal and community leaders, the value of inspiring fellow leaders was more philosophical than geographic. In 2017, Dover was invited to participate in a Clean Energy Communities panel presentation (flyer attached). Following the event, municipal leaders began to reach out to us and ask for guidance about our CSC actions. To "pay forward" the generous spirit of Dobbs Ferry and Kingston in helping us, we shared resources with other communities starting with Philipstown. We convened a June 2018 with neighboring municipalities to share information and both the Towns of Amenia and Northeast went on to register as CSC communities and obtain CSC certification grants. We collaborated with the Towns of Amenia and North East CACs on the Fall 2019 Harlem Valley Climate SmART Exhibit Project (PE 9 Action: Climate-related Public Events). Dover continues to work closely with Town of North East officials to assist with its CSC grant. A chronology of communication with these communities is attached.

  • 2. Inventory emissions, set goals, and plan for climate action.

    PE2 Action: Government Operations GHG Inventory

    16 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: In March 2018, First Environment, the Town's consultant on development of the Govt. Operations GHG Inventory Study presented a PPT information to the Climate Smart Dover Task Force (comprised of town officials and resident volunteers) to outline the scope of government operations-related GHG Scope 1, 2 and fugitive sources. A PDF of the PPT presentation is attached. Following data collection of 2017 Town facilities and street light district electricity, fleet vehicle fuel, stationary fuel consumption and propane use, First Environment prepared preliminary findings that were reviewed by the Climate Smart Dover Task Force in June 2018. A copy of the June 9 task force meeting minutes and preliminary findings is attached. In August 2018, a PPT presentation on the GHG study findings and draft Govt. Operations Climate Action Plan was presented to the Town Board that is live broadcast on the Town's cable TV channel and archived for on-demand viewing on the Town's website. A copy of the PPT presentation is attached. The publication was completed at the end of 2018, adopted by the Town Board in January 2019 and is available for public on the Town's Public Portal in "Shared Services" , "Town of Dover" master folder and "Climate Smart Dover" subfolder (https://municipalsharedservices.townofdoverny.us/WebLink/1/doc/1446819/Page1.aspx). A copy of the publication and adoption resolution is also attached.)

    PE2 Action: Government Operations Climate Action Plan

    16 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: Since the plan's adoption in January 2019, the Government Operations Climate Action Plan has been available online on the Town's Climate Smart Dover webpage: https://www.doverny.us/climate-smart-dover The Town of Dover, with funding support from a NYS DEC Climate Smart Communities certification grant in 2018, completed a government operations GHG emissions inventory, GHG emissions target reduction plan and climate action plan (CAP). Town officials and the Town's Climate Smart Dover Task Force completed the project with assistance of First Environment, Inc. Attached please find copies of the govt. operations GHG inventory (2017 baseline year) with target reduction plan and the 2018 govt. operations climate action plan. Also attached is an electronic copy of the PowerPoint presentation to the Dover Town Board by First Environment and the Dover Town Board's Jan. 30, 2019 resolution to adopt the Govt. Operations GHG inventory, target reduction plan and climate action plan. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO SUPPORT REQUEST CONSIDERATION Of FULL (16) CERTIFICATION POINTS: Following our consultant's presentation to the Town Board in August 2018 (which is also televised to residents on our cable TV station and archived for rebroadcast on-demand on the Town's website), the Climate Smart Dover Task Force met in Sept. 2018, viewed the presentation segment, and discussed value-added refinements to the Govt. Operations CAP document. Attached please copies of our Sept. 8th meeting agenda and minutes . As a result of our meeting discussion, we decided that the document would benefit from an additional chapter with specific actions that town leaders, appointed boards, department heads and staff could take to implement this govt. operations climate action plan. Through the fall of 2018, we developed an additional chapter to the publication entitled, "Leading by Example: What town leaders, appointed boards, department heads and town staff can do to protect their communities from the negative impacts of climate change" (please find attached). This additional chapter was not developed by the consultants, but rather by the task force members (who are town residents) using our knowledge of CSC certifications actions and local resources and capabilities to help empower municipal leaders and staff actualize their roles as community role models of sustainability. Since the goal of the Govt. Operations CAP is to help Dover officials and staff take proactive steps to more sustainable government procedures and practices, we would like to request the consideration of the full (16) points for CAP implementation actions completed since the January 2020 CSC certification review. Since the last CSC certification review, town leaders coordinated completion of a town-wide LED upgrade of its 282 streetlights. Additionally town staff began recycling water bottles and collecting bottle caps and tops for the "Bench for Caps" (children's recycled plastic bench program available through the Green Tree Plastic's bench for caps, https://www.greentreeplastics.com/abc-program). Photos of these projects are also attached. Funds from recycling Town water bottles is donated to the local food pantry. Both of these actions were identified for town leaders and staff in the "Leading By Example" chapter. We achieved these modest, yet meaningful milestones in light of the COVID-19 ordeal that up-ended our municipal work schedules and look forward to implementing additional actions suggested in the chapter. We hope this additional information and corresponding attachments demonstrate the successful outcome of the Govt. Operations Climate Action Plan being thoughtfully prepared with insight and input of task force/resident volunteers who were able to help empower town officials and staff to take concrete actions to toward the additional chapter's outcome that town officials and staff truly "lead by example" as role models of community sustainability.

  • 3. Decrease energy use.

    PE3 Action: LED Street Lights

    10 Points

    Program Summary: In December 2018, the Town of Dover adopted a Govt. Operations Climate Action Plan with funding assistance of a NYS DEC Climate Smart Communities Certification Program grant. Through the spring, summer and fall of 2019, town officials and the Climate Smart Task Force worked with NYSEG to explore a comprehensive LED fixture upgrade of its 282 streetlights. We also participated in four Lighting Academy webinars offered by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to learn about options of lighting improvements and human-factor considerations of street lighting. We spoke with town officials in communities with LED upgrades in process for recommendations. In Sept. 2019 the Town Board executed an upgrade agreement with NYSEG and refined the agreement in Dec. 2019 to adjust the original CCT of 4,000 to 3,000 Kelvin. The town-wide LED upgrade of 282 streetlights (100% of town inventory) were completed at the end of April 2020. In addition to significant reductions in GHG emissions and improved lighting correlated with perceptions of enhanced safety and decreased crime, the Town will save over $20,000 a year going forward on electricity and fixture leasing costs. Supporting documentation for this action item includes: a town-wide inventory of streetlight fixtures provided by NYSEG; the LED conversion annual savings calculation; excerpt of the Town's Govt. Operations Climate Action Plan recommending implementation of this project; the Town's agreement with NYSEG for the upgrade; letter from NYSEG of project completion and photographs of streetlights along well-traveled locations before and after the LED upgrade.

    PE3 Action: Energy Code Enforcement Training

    5 Points

    Program Summary: On March 27, 2019, the Town of Dover Code Enforcement Officer (Paul Johnson) and the Town's Planning Board and ZBA Secretary (Solita Moran-Frye) attended the NYSERDA's Clean Energy Communities Energy Code Enforcement Trainin in Kingston, NY. Attached please find documentation to confirm their participation and completion of the training.

  • 6. Implement climate-smart land use.

    PE6 Action: Natural Resources Inventory

    10 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: In 2019, the Town of Dover completed a town-wide natural resource inventory with funding assistance of a NYS DEC Climate Smart Communities Certification Program grant and project support of Hudsonia, Ltd. The Climate Smart Dover Task Force assisted with iterative reviews of draft documents and provided local photographs for the final publication. Attached please find an electronic copy of the publication and the November 20, 2019 resolution by the Dover Town Board of its adoption.

  • 7. Enhance community resilience to climate change.

    PE7 Action: Climate Vulnerability Assessment

    4 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The Town of Dover conducted a vulnerability assessment for the climate hazard of flooding,with professional assistance of the Housatonic Valley Association and their partners, the University of Connecticut's School of Engineering, the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County, During 2018, the Town completed a town-wide Road-Stream Crossing Inventory and Vulnerability Assessment Study that was funded in part through a NYS DEC Climate Smart Communities Certification Program grant. A copy of the General Recommendations sections of the document with this information is attached. This assessment provided baseline information of town road-stream crossings and identified municipal mitigation priorities based on flood risk modeling and anecdotal information. A copy of the prioritization list is attached. The NYS CSC PE 7 Action information has affirmed that local governments should consider flooding as a primary climate hazard. In the "General Recommendations" of this document, page 11, contains information documenting an increase of precipitation by 40+ percent from 1958 to 2012. The study assessed 124 road-stream crossings over 101 miles of streams and rivers and 154 miles of roads and other transportation corridors. Study findings were reviewed by town leaders and public works officials and further informed by town historical data. Of the 124 crossings evaluated, twelve crossings were identified as priorities based on a triangulation of flood risk analysis, structural condition/weakness and sediment/debris accumulation. The study will be an invaluable resource for the Town to develop, budget and seek funding opportunities for implementation projects to repair, replace and upgrade crossings to provide safe roadways.

    PE7 Action: Evaluate Policies for Climate Resilience

    6 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: With technical assistance from the Housatonic Valley Association staff and funding support of a Climate Smart Communities Certification Program grant, the Town completed a review of town plans, policies and procedures using the Climate Smart Resiliency Planning Checklist. Attached please find a completed CSRP tool, a summary report of findings and a 07/31/19 resolution of the Dover Town Board to adopt the publication.

    PE7 Action: Conserve Natural Areas

    12 Points

    Program Summary: Please begin with the attachment, "Town of Dover's Conservation of Three Significant Natural Habitats" for background and context of three initiatives to conserve parcels in the hamlet of Dover Plains that contain significant natural resources and habitats identified for protection in the 2016 NYS Open Space Plan, the Town's 1993 Master Plan and the Town's 2019 Natural Resource Inventory. Additional supporting documents uploaded for these initiatives include: 1) References in the NYS Open Space Plan, the 1993 Town Master Plan and 2019 Town's Natural Resource Inventory; 2) Acquisition of the Dover Stone Church and Adjoining Parcels; 3) Steps to Acquire the Seven Wells (Crane) Property; and 4) Town Assistance with the Establishment of the Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge.

  • 9. Inform and inspire the public.

    PE9 Action: Climate-related Public Events

    3 Points

    Program Summary: In summer and fall of 2019. the Town of Dover collaborated with the Towns of Amenia and North East on an intermunicipal art exhibit project entitled, "Harlem Valley Climate SmART Project (flyer attached). The Climate Smart Dover Task Force and the Conservation Advisory Councils of Amenia and North East coordinated art exhibits in their respective communities to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on local natural resources. Local artists were invited to submit artwork over the summer that would be part of a traveling display to each community in the fall. The Town of Dover presented the art exhibit that the Town's Annual Community Day on Sept. 21, 2019 along with brief commentaries on each artwork that included three components: Information (on the resource represented in the artwork), "Something to Think About:" (a question related to the impact of climate change) and "Climate Smart Action" (a recommendation for residents to take action). The exhibit also included posters of information about climate change from a publication of Scenic Hudson. After the exhibit, a PPT presentation of the exhibit was uploaded to the Climate Smart Dover Facebook page.

    PE9 Action: Local Climate Action Website

    3 Points

    Program Summary: The Town of Dover's website features three areas of climate change-related information and resources: 1) a Climate Smart Dover webpage that provides brief chronology of Dover's participation and progress toward Climate Smart Communities certification; 2) a weblink to view and read the complete collection of Climate Smart Dover Task Force's meeting agendas and minutes, and 3) an electronic records public portal to view the Town's CSC certification-related resources and publications. Please visit the webpage at https://townofdoverny.us/ClimateSmart.cfm. We have found our Climate Smart Dover-NY Facebook page is a popular social media venue to educate residents about reducing GHG emissions and building community resilience to climate change. As a result, we regularly post our own climate smart content along with weblink from trusted sources. Our Town website is generally regarded more as a repository for public information than an interactive media platform. Publications currently posted to the Climate Smart Dover folder of the Town's website include: the Town's Govt. Operations GHG Inventory, Target Reduction Plan and Climate Action Plan; the Review of Policies, Procedures and Policies Using the CSRP Checklist; the town-wide Road-Stream Crossing Inventory and Vulnerability Assessment Study and Town Natural Resource Inventory. In 2020, we will begin a project to develop a Sustainability Element for the Town's Comprehensive Plan Update. Please visit the Climate Smart Dover folder on the Public Portal of the Town's website at https://municipalsharedservices.townofdoverny.us/WebLink/Browse.aspx?startid=90862 (click on "Town of Dover" and then "Climate Smart Dover" folders.

    PE9 Action: Social Media

    3 Points

    Program Summary: In January 2019, the Town of Dover launched the Climate Smart Dover-NY Facebook page and an Instagram account that is managed by the Climate Smart Dover Task Force members (who are also members of the Town's Conservation Advisory Council.) These social media venues features posts with information about climate change and practical ways to incorporate "climate smart" measures in residents' lives. The webpage is available at www.facebook.com/climatesmartdover-ny and on Instagram at climatesmartdoverny. Attached are copies of some posts created especially for the webpage by Climate Smart Dover Task Force members and others that are shared from other resources.

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