Swampscott officials welcomed state Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer to discuss the town’s coastal resiliency efforts.
Hoffer was appointed to the role in April 2023 by Gov. Maura Healy. Not only is Hoffer the first climate chief in Massachusetts, but the position is also the first of its kind in the country. State Rep. Jenny Armini welcomed Hoffer to Swampscott so she could learn about the coastal community’s specific challenges.
“She’d never been to Swampscott before,” Armini said. “She’s going all around the state. But when you look at the cape, the cape is very different… so it was incredibly important for me to have her actually see it.”
Town leaders shared their climate action plan, called “Resilient Swampscott,” with Hoffer. The plan is led by the Climate Action Plan, Tree, and Open Space and Recreation Plan committees.
“She gave them very positive feedback,” Armini said. “She said that they’re actually doing all the right things planning.”
Select Board member Doug Thompson said that the town effectively used a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Grant.
“It enabled us to build up some dunes and grasses along a lot of the beach entrances to deal with flooding issues,” Select Board member Doug Thompson said.
Thompson, who also serves as the board’s liaison for the Climate Action Plan Committee, participated in the meeting, pointing out one of the town’s major proposals.
“One of the biggest things that was proposed in the Harbor and Waterfront Plan was a building of a protected living reef,” Thompson said. “It’s basically a breakwater, but is built in a way that it becomes more like a reef with living organisms and sea life.”
Armini said that a living reef would be much better than a “big slab of concrete.
Director of Public Works Gino Cresta demonstrated to Hoffer the impact coastal floods and storms have had on town landmarks, such as the pier and Swampscott Fish House.
Swampscott hopes to reach net zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050, and the town will hold a Special Town Meeting on March 11 to consider adopting a new specialized energy code. One part of Hoffer’s role is providing short-term solutions to coastal flooding on a regional level, as municipalities work toward their long-term “green goals.”
Armini said she looks forward to Hoffer helping communities implement “climate innovation” in all of their departments.
“Her job is to make sure that every agency is thinking about climate innovation and mitigation adaptation resilience,” Armini said. “Whatever (department) it is, her job is to make sure that when decisions are made, climate impact is considered.”
