MAPLETON – Council here has adopted terms of reference for a new environment advisory committee and named six community members and four township officials to the group.
The committee includes council representative councillor Martin Tamlyn, ex-officio members Mayor Gregg Davidson and CAO Manny Baron and staff liaison clerk Larry Wheeler.
Community members selected through an application process are: Ed Benjamin, Dave DeVries, Doug Duimering, Jamie Israel, Srinivasa Kunuthur and John Mohl.
The mandate included in the committee’s terms of reference, approved at the May 23 council meeting, states the committee is tasked with “providing guidance and education on matters concerning Mapleton’s natural and built environments.”
As an advisory committee, the group is expected to work closely with the township’s council, CAO, and wider community “to ensure that the natural and built environments are protected and preserved for future generations.”
The committee will assist in the development of policies and programs that promote sustainable practices “while also supporting economic growth and development.”
Objectives include:
- stewardship, macro guidance and support towards achieving the environmental objectives within council’s strategic plan;
- identification of innovative strategies and opportunities available for current or future delivery of services models;
- recognizing potential avenues for community awareness, education and outreach;
- review and comment on Mapleton’s annual Energy Consumption Update Report;
- ascertain and highlight key players/champions in the community, including commercial operations, agri-business, and school-age projects;
- pilot Mapleton’s membership in Partners for Climate Protection (PCP), moving through the PCP’s five-step milestone framework within 10 years of joining;
- source and keep council abreast on funding streams/grants to support environmental initiatives; and
- make recommendations on key emissions reduction and carbon sequestration action areas.
Council passed a resolution to adopt the environment advisory committee terms of reference, effective immediately.
A bylaw to appoint members to the inaugural environment advisory committee was also approved at the meeting.
