Sustainability Hearing Will Open Council Meeting

Havre de Grace could be a much cleaner, greener place.

is looking for some input from residents on how to make that happen.

The first-term Havre de Grace city councilwoman is the sponsor of that would put into place an official “” for the city. The resolution—which would institute a partnership with Sustainable Maryland Certified—is up for a public hearing to open , after it was passed and .

Wagner is hoping for significant public input Monday—whether in favor of the resolution or against it. The public hearing begins at 7 p.m. at .

“If we have great public outcry that they’re against it, then we should go with what the citizens are desiring,” Wagner said. “It’s my hope people will speak out in support.”

By partnering with Sustainable Maryland Certified, Wagner said the city would have access to grant money, the ability to further educate the community and to further publicize the city as a green destination.

Detractors of the resolution point to a series of costs the city may incur from the program. Wagner said those costs aren’t guaranteed, and would only come if the city elects to participate in certain segments of the program. The initial cost to the city is staff time, and Wagner said the city liaison has an interest in sustainability and green initiatives.

Wagner is also seeking more community input for the proposed “green team,” which began as a grassroots, community-driven group, including Patch contributor . The new incarnation of the team will involve five community members, two elected officials and two city employees. Two of the five residents have been selected, and Wagner said she hopes to be able to tap into more than those five as resources.

“We definitely need some more people in the community. And even if there aren’t people on the green team, we need community input,” she said. “It should involve everybody in some shape or form.”

Wagner said nine city businesses have qualified for green certification through the program, which recognizes about 315 businesses statewide, she said.

Aberdeen is in the application process, according to the organization website. The site showed 21 communities registered Sunday night, most located between Annapolis and Washington, D.C.

Without City Council’s blessing, Havre de Grace will not be allowed to partner with Sustainable Maryland Certified.

“It’s for municipalities, so we can’t participate without the city’s support,” Wagner said. “I think having the city’s support, and being able to benefit from the resources available, it would be a tremendous asset to the community.”

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ALSO ON MONDAY'S AGENDA ...

A regular City Council meeting will be held following the public hearing. See the PDF included in this post for the full agenda.

and are scheduled to present recognitions to two officers—PFC Jonathan Sova and PFC Aaron Sandruck of the Havre de Grace Police Department.

Garrett Lyttle is scheduled to make a presentation on behalf of the Water and Sewer Commission.

A resolution about local government insurance trust and an ordinance concerning the forest conservation code are also scheduled to be introduced.

Patch will provide up-to-the-minute coverage of the public hearing and council meeting.