Sustainability Committee

Committee Agendas and Minutes

Lynn Stoddard, Chair

Purpose:
 To advise the Town Council on sustainability programs, policies, and practices that foster environmental, economic, and social well-being in municipal operations and throughout the Mansfield community.

Membership:
 The Committee shall be composed of up to seven members who represent a broad spectrum of sustainability perspectives including environmental protection, economic vitality and social justice. Members may be drawn from Town residents and/or the Town Council, Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC), Region 19 staff and Board of Education. In addition, the Committee may include up to 2 alternate representatives.

Responsibilities:

1. Advise the Town Council on matters related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate mitigation and adaptation, and other sustainability issues.

2. Engage the community in energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate mitigation and adaptation projects.

3. Reduce the Town’s municipal government carbon footprint in an effort to respond to climate change and keep the Town on pace to achieve carbon neutrality across all aspects of the municipal government (buildings, vehicles, etc.) by

a. Exploring ways to enhance municipal capacity to prepare and respond to ongoing climate impacts by ensuring climate mitigation and adaptation are considered in town actions, seeking funding, and interfacing between external resources and town departments or individual employees,

b. Building resilience knowledge and resources for residents and municipal officials, and

c. Building climate knowledge for residents and municipal officials.

4. Assist in maintaining and renewing Sustainable CT certification.