New West Hartford Environmental Commission Eyed By Council

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Local leaders are looking to further commit toward conservation and sustainable practices in town as it mulls creating one new commission and disbanding two others.

In creating the Sustainable West Hartford Commission, the West Hartford Town Council, essentially, would merge the services of two others.

As a result, the council would have to disband the town's conservation and environment commission and the clean energy commission.

On March 23, the council — with no discussion at a very short, pre-holiday weekend meeting — voted to schedule public hearings for June 13 to create the new commission and disband the other two.

Those hearings are at 6:45 p.m. at West Hartford Town Hall on Tuesday, June 13.

The new board's goals, according to the town's proposed resolution establishing it, is to promote "practices that lead to greater environmental, social and economic sustainability."

It would consist of 11 members, all appointed by the council, and they will not be paid.

For the inaugural group, four members would serve a term until Dec. 31, 2024; four until Dec. 31, 2025; and three until Dec. 31, 2026.

The staggered terms initially are to ensure continuity of membership, as the whole board would not be up for reappointments at the same time.

After the initial group, subsequent terms would be three years.

The ordinance creating the new group, if approved later this month, would take effect Sept. 1, with appointments soon after.

For the full ordinance proposal creating the Sustainable West Hartford Commission, click on this link.

For the minutes of the March 23 West Hartford Town Council meeting, click on this link.