Town accepting applicants; New volunteer board tasked with furthering the Town’s effort to create a more sustainable future and assess cost-saving green initiatives
Town Supervisor Ciaran Hanna and the Perinton Town Board today announced the creation of a new Sustainability Advisory Board in the Town of Perinton. The Sustainability Advisory Board is a seven-member volunteer board, and the Town is now accepting applications from Perinton residents.
“The Town of Perinton is dedicated to sustainable practices that not only protect our vital natural resources but also yield savings for local taxpayers,” said Deputy Town Supervisor David Belaskas. “We’ve already had great success with green initiatives such as LED lighting, electric parks equipment, and an electric car charging station at Town Hall, but we are ready to take our focus on sustainability to the next level. Our goal is to provide the best possible services and resources at the lowest possible cost for our residents as we move Perinton toward a more sustainable future.”
The Sustainability Advisory Board will be tasked with evaluating current and future opportunities to implement sustainable best practices in Town operations. They will also help identify community issues and concerns and develop potential strategies, proposals, plans, or solutions and serve in an advisory capacity to the Town Supervisor and Town Board as well as Town Departments, committees, and volunteer boards. Their goal will be to preserve Perinton’s natural resources by reducing the Town’s ecological footprint while identifying operational efficiencies to produce cost savings for local taxpayers.
“Our community is a beautiful place – filled with wonderful parks and natural resources which contribute greatly to the outstanding quality of life that we all enjoy,” said Town Board Member Meredith Stockman-Broadbent. “The Sustainability Advisory Board will work to protect and enhance our resources to best serve our community for generations to come. Those residents who are interested in helping our Town enhance its reputation as a green and vibrant community are encouraged to apply.”
Perinton’s Sustainability Advisory Board will focus its attention on several key action areas, including Facilities and Infrastructure; Fleet; Energy; Resources Recovery; Natural Resources; and Education and Outreach. They will also work to secure grants that may contribute to the reuse and preservation of sustainable infrastructure in the community. Furthermore, the board will support the sustainable and green infrastructure measures of the Town’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan Update. The Plan, currently in draft form, identified several focus areas such as protecting open spaces and natural resources, supporting the farming and agricultural industry, and embracing local renewable energy sources and alternative energy systems within the Town.
Perinton residents interested in applying to serve on the Sustainability Advisory Board must submit a resume and letter of intent to Town Clerk Jen West by Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at 5 p.m. Submissions will be accepted by email at jwest@perinton.org, or by mail to Perinton Town Hall 1350 Turk Hill Road Fairport, NY 14450.
The seven-member board will be complemented by ex-officio members, such as representatives from the Planning Board, Conservation Board, Recreation and Parks Department, and Public Works. Perinton’s Sustainability Advisory Board was established by local law and is detailed in Chapter 61 of the Town Code.
