Needham is close to becoming a Green Community, joining 240 other Massachusetts cities and towns, including 18 of our 20 comparable communities.
Please join us at the Select Board’s public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 in Powers Hall (second floor of Town Hall, 1471 Highland Avenue) to show your support. Residents and organizations may of course speak at the public hearing, but it is really your presence that matters. If you can’t be present, you can let the Select Board know of your support with an e-mail to selectboard@needhamma.gov. Positive action by the Select Board will enable Needham to apply for Green Community status in the 2019 designation round (the application deadline is November 22nd).
Many individuals and organizations have contributed to getting us to this point. Over the past year, Green Needham has been working with the Select Board and Town staff to encourage and support Needham’s finally becoming a Green Community.
Two of the five requirements for becoming a Green Community – As of Right Siting and Expedited Permitting – were completed back when Needham first pursued the designation back in 2011. The Stretch Energy Code was adopted during the May 2019 Annual Town Meeting. Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick has prepared a Fuel Efficient Vehicle Policy and has led a team of Town staff and consultants that have developed an Energy Reduction Plan. Adoption of the vehicle policy and energy reduction plan would complete the requirements for Needham to apply for designation as a Green Community.
Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick and the other members of the Green Communities Working Group presented the results of their work to the Select Board at their September 24th meeting.
The Select Board has the information it needs to proceed, and now wants to hear from the public at its October 16th meeting before moving forward. Please join us at Powers Hall on October 16th to show your support!
Note: The Select Board meeting begins at 7:00 pm. The public hearing is the third item in the agenda, so it is possible that it may be reached before the scheduled start time of 7:30 pm.
