Aspinwall Council wants to partner with residents to explore ways to make a positive environmental impact on the community.
Volunteers are needed for the newly created sustainability advisory committee led by Councilman Mark Chimel.
Resumes and letters of interest can be submitted to the borough office, 217 Commercial Ave.
About six to eight members will be selected to be on the ad hoc committee sometime in April.
Committee priorities and other details have yet to be worked out.
“The goal of the committee would be determined by the interests of those who end up on it want to tackle,” Chimel said. “If we want to move forward with making this a permanent board, we would go through the ordinance process to do that.”
The idea for the committee came from the borough’s comprehensive plan crafted by Pashek MTR in 2022.
Sustainability issues in the plan included improving connectivity for cyclists and walkers, identifying opportunities to incrementally build stormwater features into local infrastructure and expanding the tree canopy.
Other things Chimel said he would like to see the committee address include air and water quality, recycling, composting, stormwater runoff and urban life pollution.
“I think it really comes back to preserving what we have,” he said. “Meeting current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet needs. … Kind of a ‘do no harm’ approach to the environment — our natural infrastructure — as much as possible.”
The committee would meet at least once a month, possibly bi-weekly at the borough building.
Chimel said he would like to see people with various backgrounds such as construction, engineering, gardening and environmental studies apply.
The only committee requirement is to be a resident with an interest in sustainability.
Council President Jeff Harris and other members support the committee idea.
“I believe the formation of this committee is a great opportunity to provide a platform for residents with a passion for or expertise in sustainability, as outlined in our Comprehensive Plan,” Harris said. “By allowing this group to identify key areas for improvement, we can work toward a more sustainable future while potentially opening doors to grants and funding for sustainability initiatives.
“I believe that engaging the broader community in this way is always a positive step toward building a more forward-thinking borough.”
Those interested can email Chimel at mchimel.aspinwall@gmail.com or Borough Manager Melissa Lang O’Malley at melissa@boroughofaspinwall.com for more information.