Greenery is evident throughout Frederick, and more green is planned with the public’s help.
Mayor Randy McClement wants three volunteers to serve on a new Green Initiative Team to lead and coordinate initiatives that promote the city’s effort to preserve environmental and natural resources.
The team is one component of the Sustainable Maryland Certified Program of the University of Maryland’s Environmental Finance Center. Frederick is one of 20 municipalities that have registered to participate in the program, according to the Sustainable Maryland website.
The university program helps municipalities find affordable strategies to protect resources and revitalize communities and certifies their success. A municipality may earn points toward sustainability certification by conserving and protecting water, energy, land, health, food and the economy.
Being certified may give a municipality an edge when applying for state and federal funding in addition to providing conservation benefits, Joe Adkins, deputy director of planning, said in an email.
Maryland’s new program is based on New Jersey’s Sustainable Jersey, Adkins said.
The new team will consider the work done by other city committees, such as the Ad Hoc Solid Waste/Recycling Committee, and it may be productive to exchange ideas with other communities, Adkins said. It may be possible to maximize resources with other communities, he said.
The deadline to apply for the team is set for close of business Dec. 16, but is subject to change.
