SUSTAINABILITY REPORT - Dartmouth

2016 SUSTAINABILITY REPORTSelection of Reporting PeriodThe Town of Dartmouth has selected a hybrid annualreporting period due to the many ways that data iscollected across municipal departments. When possible,data utilized in this report is for the 2016 calendar yearperiod, however, there are instances where 2016 fiscal yeardata is provided instead. A prime example of this is any datataken from the Town’s annual budget reports which arestructured by fiscal year. With calendar year data on othersubjects made available through annual town reporting,the selection of a hybrid reporting period reduces the needfor Town departments to restructure data and tables formultiple reports. Thus, while reporting periods may not beconsistent between different topics, efforts have beenmade to ensure that they are consistent between reportingperiods. This concession in the selection of reportingperiods makes it easier for Dartmouth to complete thesustainability reporting process in-house given thesignificant time investment involved while still allowingreaders to follow the progress that that Town has madewith its sustainability commitments over the years. Unlessotherwise noted, data included in this report is from thecalendar year 2016.Massachusetts Dartmouth established aframework for the determination of theTown of Dartmouth’s key stakeholders andthe material topics that impact them.This year’s sustainability report builds uponthis framework by revisiting the materialityassessment process, allowing the Town toupdate its understanding of its sustainabilitycontext while ensuring that chosen topicsare those that are relevant and important tomunicipal decision-makers and other keystakeholders.Based upon a 2012 stakeholder engagementsurvey, we have identified our stakeholdersas our employees, partners, residents,businesses, and other organizations withinthe physical boundaries of the Town ofDartmouth as well as partners, businesses,visitors, government agencies, and otherorganizations that work in coordination withthe Town outside of its borders. Input fromresidents and businesses is regularlycommunicated to Town officials via email,social media, news media, letters, phonecalls, meetings, and other forms of publicparticipation.To summarize, these intersecting groups ofstakeholders include:Determination of Material AspectsIn coordination with the Town’s sustainability context andthe GRI Reporting Principles, this year’s sustainabilityreport has been constructed to focus on the mostsignificant economic, environmental, and social impactsthat have affected our stakeholders.As with any municipality, the Town of Dartmouth relies onregular interaction with its key stakeholders to functioneffectively and efficiently. Prior sustainability reportscompleted by the Net Impact Program of the University of ers TouristsTrade UnionsLocal CommunitiesShareholders andProviders of CapitalSuppliersIn evaluation of local news media,stakeholder involvement, and internalexperience with municipal impacts over thecourse of the current and past reportingperiods, the Town has identified the mostrelevant and important material topics:6

INFLUENCE ON STAKEHOLDER ASSESSMENTS & DECISIONS2016 SUSTAINABILITY REPORTmunicipal leadership, considerations of economic,environmental, and social sustainability have becomeimportant cornerstones of municipal operation. Ultimately,the Town’s commitment to sustainability is fostered by itsstrong leadership and put into practice by all municipalemployees every day.11081116617135191412921831547SIGNIFICANCE TO THE TOWN OF DARTMOUTHEthics, Disclosures, and ManagementApproachThe predominant mission of the Town ofDartmouth is to provide the infrastructure,resources, and services to support theeconomic, societal, and environmentalprosperity of its citizens. To achieve this goal,municipal departments operate according tospecificmissionstatementsandresponsibilities. The municipal leadership,comprised of the Town Voters, the SelectBoard, the Town Administrator, and otherhigh-level managers and administrators,collectively define municipal strategies,principles, and policies that addresssustainability issues. Through this strongThe management approach taken by the Town ofDartmouth follows the laws, regulations, and policiesestablished by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts andthe by-laws of the Town of Dartmouth. Management topicsinclude Goals and Performance, Municipal Responsibility,Training and Awareness, as well as Monitoring and Followup and are established by key municipal leaders, electedofficials, and other top officials employed by the Town ofDartmouth.Under this framework, the Town utilizes many importanttools to manage and further develop the sustainability of itsoperations. These tools include Standard & Poor’s ratingservices, financial service reviews, data sourced from stateand federal agencies, independent auditors, internalDartSTAT evaluations, in addition to GRI sustainabilityreporting. Information from these tools is utilized toevaluate past performance in working towardssustainability goals as well as to plan for futuresustainability goals. This information also supplements theday-to-day work and responsibilities of departmentsthroughout Town to plan, measure, and assess their directsustainability impacts. Where data is unavailable to informthe decision-making process, Town officials traditionallyemploy a precautionary approach that considers the social,environmental, and economic impacts of various outcomesto determine what is best for the community.Hierarchical organizations of the municipal governmentcan be found below. In addition, more information aboutdepartments, boards, and committees responsible fordecision-making on economic, environmental, and socialtopics can be found on the official Town of Dartmouthwebsite or in annual reports produced by the Town.7

2016 SUSTAINABILITY REPORTHIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE OF THETOWN OF DARTMOUTHTOWNVOTERSLIBRARYTRUSTEESBOARD OFASSESSORSLIBRARYDIRECTORTOWNCLERKPARKS &RECREATIONCEMETERYCOMMISSIONADMINISTRATOR OFASSESSINGSELECTBOARDPARKS &RECREATIONCEMETERYSUPERINTENDENTBOARD IRECTORYOUTH SIONSELECT BOARDPOLICE CHIEFTOWNADMINISTRATORCONSERVATIONCOMMITTEECOUNCIL ONAGINGASSISTANTHARBORMASTERDIRECTOR OF BUDGET &FINANCE TREASURERDIRECTOR OFDEVELOPMENTDIRECTOR OFINSPECTIONALSERVICESADMINISTRATOR OFASSESSINGTOWNACCOUNTANTTAX COLLECTORMIS DIRECTORCOORDINATOR OFENVIRONMENTALAFFAIRSCOA DIRECTORPUBLIC WORKSDIRECTORBOARD OF PUBLICWORKSSUPERVISORWATER & SEWERZONING BOARD OFAPPEALSPRINCIPLE CLERK8

2016 SUSTAINABILITY REPORTINTRODUCTION TO DARTMOUTH,MASSACHUSETTSand individuals have contributed to the growth ofsustainability within Dartmouth. Featured beloware just a few examples demonstrating thecommunity’s shared commitment to sustainability:UMass DartmouthUMASS DARTMOUTH UMASSD.EDUSettled in 1650 and incorporated in theCommonwealth of Massachusetts in 1664, the Townof Dartmouth is situated on the state’s southern tiproughly 60 miles south of Boston. Covering over 63square miles, Dartmouth is the third-largestcommunity in the state based on land area. Inaddition to its scenic coastline and historically-richagricultural community, Dartmouth is home to theUniversity of Massachusetts Dartmouth, aprestigious institution with numerous collegesincluding the UMass Dartmouth School of Law. TheTown is comprised of a variety of five historicvillages: the Hixville, Bliss Corner, Padanaram,Smith Mills, and Russells Mills Historic Villages.The Town takes pride in its expansive parks, trails,nature reserves, beaches, and other recreationalopportunities that it maintains for its residents andvisitors. Combined with its verdant landscape andrich local history, Dartmouth contains an expansivecommercial district that serves as a regionalshopping center for neighboring towns and cities.Connecting it to these communities, the Town ofDartmouth is traversed by Massachusetts StateHighway Route 6 through its interior and by U.S.Interstate I-95 to the North.Sustainability is interwoven into the fabric of theUniversity of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMassDartmouth), a prestigious four-year educationalinstitution situated at 285 Old Westport Roadroughly two miles west of the Dartmouth Town Hall.As an innovative public research university, UMassDartmouth’s commitment to sustainability is visiblethroughout its variety of degree programs, affiliatedclubs and organizations, as well as its innovativeapproach to renewable energy.A 600-kW wind turbine, a 265-kW solar photovoltaic(PV) array, as well as a 1.7 MW combined heat andpower system located on the institution’s maincampus provide a local source of clean energy tooffset annual electricity use. Alongside importantresearch conducted at the university to furthersustainability efforts on land and in local waters,UMass Dartmouth’s Campus Sustainability andResidential Initiatives Program has worked tirelesslyto improve the sustainability of institutionaloperations across the campus and the surroundingcommunity.Crapo Hill LandfillLocal Leaders in SustainabilityAs fundamental as sustainability is to the Town ofDartmouth’s municipal operations, it has become acornerstone of the local community’s character, aswell. Numerous institutions, organizations, groups,CRAPO LANDFILL GNBRRMDISTRICT.ORG9

2016 SUSTAINABILITY REPORTUnder the management of the Greater New BedfordRegional Refuse Management District, the CrapoLandfill has undergone an extensive set of upgradesthat have improved the sustainability of itsoperations. For instance, the Refuse District’s stateof-the-art anaerobic digestion facility processesdeposited food, fats, oils, grease, and sewage sludgewaste to produce biogas for its gas-fired powerplant. By utilizing the decomposition process as anopportunity to produce renewable energy, theCrapo Landfill generates enough natural gas to light3,500 homes every day.as a working farm and non-profit organization. Its 40acres of farmland are utilized for the education ofvisitors regarding sustainable living andenvironmentally-friendly agricultural practices. Inaddition to hosting informational events for thelocal community, RTB has become a local pioneer insustainability through various initiatives such as itshighly-efficient composting toilets in its facilities.Eva’s GardenPadanaram Oyster FarmEVA’S GARDEN EVASGREENGARDEN.COMCOURTESY OF DARTMOUTH WEEK PHOTO BY SETH THOMASWith the creation of an aquaculture permittingprocess, the Padanaram Oyster Farm initiated theplanting of thousands of oyster seed stock along theouter Padanaram Harbor in 2015. Oysters sold fromthe farm are marketed as Padanaram Oysters andhave received critical acclaim from restaurantsacross the country. The remarkable rate of growthhighlights the added benefit of waterway cleansingperformed by growing oysters. In fact, each adultoyster is capable of filtering out harmful impuritiesand other harmful pollutants in a quantity of up to50 gallons of seawater daily.A 3-acre organic farm located in South Dartmouth,Eva’s Garden serves as another prime example ofsustainable agriculture in the community and hasearned its reputation by supplying some of thefreshest organic herbs to upscale restaurants fromNew York to Maine. In addition to harvesting,composting, and preserving produce, Eva’s Gardenalso inspires and educates young workers at thefarm to play an active role in sustainable agriculture.Dartmouth Natural Resources TrustRound the Bend FarmROUND THE BEND FARM ROUNDTHEBENDFARM.ORGA local treasure, the Round the Bend (RTB) Farm ofSouth Dartmouth epitomizes sustainable practicesThe Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT) is anon-profit organization committed to thepreservation of Dartmouth’s natural resources. TheDNRT now owns over 1,700 acres of protected land.Established in 1971, the DNRT has worked to protectover 5,100 acres of land in Dartmouth with the helpof the Town of Dartmouth, state agencies, and othernon-government environmental organizations.10

2016 SUSTAINABILITY REPORTThe Municipal GovernmentThe Town of Dartmouth is headquartered at theTown Hall Building located at 400 Slocum Road inDartmouth, Massachusetts, 02747.The Town of Dartmouth provides an array of integralservices to the community of Dartmouth,Massachusetts in addition to the supply of cleanwater to residents and businesses. Along with theprovision of security, emergency, and recreationalservices, the Town owns and operates numerousfacilities that are accessible to the public.Due to its central role in the community, officials inthe Town of Dartmouth work to support a number ofintersecting groups of beneficiaries. To providequality service to its citizens, the Town relies on thework of departments, boards, and offices such asthese: Accounting DepartmentAnimal ControlAssessorBoard of HealthBuilding DepartmentCollectorCouncil on AgingDepartment of Public WorksDirector of Community/GrantsCommunity Television (DCTV)Conservation CommissionLibrariesPlanning BoardParks and RecreationPolice DepartmentSelect BoardThe input of local citizens helps Dartmouth thrive byinforming municipal operations. Dartmouth’sresidents contribute to the functioning of the localgovernment through their involvement in the manyboards and committees available for residents tojoin, participation in semi-annual Town Meetings, aswell as through opportunities to vote for localelected officials. For instance, there are currently207 members of 31 municipal boards andcommittees whose work contributes every day tothe proper functioning of the Town government.tARE CURRENTLY 207Under the direction of departments and boards, theTown of Dartmouth supports its local economy byutilizing local suppliers in and around thecommunity for municipal procurement wheneverfeasible. For example, local technicians and expertsare often relied upon for the maintenance ofimportant equipment across municipal facilities.With the assistance of Voters, local suppliers, as wellas other organizations, the Town of Dartmouthmade significant progress during 2016 in therelocation of the Dartmouth Police Department andthe Southworth Public Library. The construction ofnew facilities will allow the Town to better serveresidents and businesses in the community whilesupporting economic growth.To further integrate the Town into the local,national, and international governing framework,the Town of Dartmouth is a member of associationsand organizations that work to benefit intersectinggroups of stakeholder. For example, Dartmouth hasbeen a longtime member of the SoutheasternRegional Planning & Economic Development District(SRPEDD) that works to plan for “the region’s landuse, transportation, economy, and environmentwhile assisting member cities and towns to operatemore efficiently”.11

2016 SUSTAINABILITY REPORTRECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN MUNICIPALSUSTAINABILITYTheTown of Dartmouth wasdesignated as a GreenCommunity in December of2016. Alongside the recognition of being one ofMassachusetts leaders in energy efficiency andrenewable energy, the Town earned over 223,750in grant money to fund energy efficiencyimprovements throughout Dartmouth.To qualify for designation, the Town of Dartmouthneeded to meet five criteria specified by theDepartment of Energy Resources (DOER). The Townqualified for designation by having an expeditedapplication and permitting process for as-of-rightsolar energy systems, establishing an energy usebaseline and drafting an energy reduction plan,committing to purchase only fuel-efficient vehicleswhen practicable, and by adopting the StretchEnergy Code. As part of Dartmouth’s involvement asa Green Community, the Town has committed toworking towards a 20% reduction in municipalenergy use that will save energy costs and make ouroperations more sustainable.ECONOMYAs a fundamental component of the local economy,the Town of Dartmouth strives to have a positiveeconomic impact on its stakeholders through itsprocurement of goods and services, its interactionswith businesses and the workforce, as well as itscommitment to sound fiscal policy.MUNICIPAL HIGHLIGHTSThe Town of Dartmouth experienced healthy growthin annual total revenues during FY 2016. Despite anincrease of 103,125 in state aid that the Townreceived over the previous fiscal year, this source ofrevenue accounted for only 1.4% of the observedgrowth in total revenues. The remaining 98.6% ofthe growth in total revenues is accounted for by taxlevies, local receipts, and other available sources.Total RevenueWith increases in revenue collected from the state,through taxes, local receipts and other availablesources, the Town’s total revenue increased by 7.8%compared to FY 2015.REVENUE SOURCEAMOUNTTAX LEVY 56,169,825STATE AID 14,318,859LOCAL RECEIPTS 22,654,322OTHER AVAILABLE 7,988,114TOTAL 101,131,120 120,000,000 100,000,000 80,000,000FY 2015FY 2016 60,000,000 40,000,000 20,000,000 0Total Tax Levy State Aid LocalOtherRevenueReceipts AvailableAs indicated by Standard & Poor’s most recent creditrating of the Town for FY 2016, this “lack ofdependence on central government revenue” is oneof the reasons for the Town’s continued strongcredit rating.STANDARD AND POOR’SAAAFOR THE 3RD CONSECUTIVE YEAR12

2016 SUSTAINABILITY REPORTNet State AidEnterprise FundsAccounting for 14% of the Town’s total revenue, netstate aid is still an important source of funding forthe general government as well as the schooldepartment. In FY 2016, the Town of Dartmouthreceived 9,427,103 in education aid as well as 3,141,664 in general government aid.The enterprise funds for water, sewer, and solidwaste experienced healthy growth in FY 2016.FY 2016 NET STATE AID 12,000,000 6,000,000 11,500,000 5,000,000 11,000,000 4,000,000 10,500,000201

UMass Dartmouth Net Impact Program . This report was authored by the Town Energy Manager, Shawn Luz, in cooperation with other Town personnel, and reviewed by Town Administrator, David Cressman. It was completed utilizing the work of students from the UMass Dartmouth's Chapter of Net Impact of the Charlton College of Business in .