The city may form a task force aimed at reducing its energy use.
“The skyrocketing cost of fuel leaves us no choice but to look for alternatives to spending more and more money for less and less energy,” said city Councilor Craig Minor.
City councilors have unanimously agreed to have Bristol join a widespread movement by municipalities to search out new sources of energy and to reduce pollutants that contribute to global warming.
Mayor Art Ward said that he’s been contacting experts and beginning to take steps to carry out the council’s wishes.
“We’re on the road to it,” Ward said.
The council backed Minor’s call to create a task force with “a wide range of views, including the business sector and municipal land use boards” as well as those “with legal or technical expertise in energy consumption.”
Minor said the panel should review suggested actions in the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to determine which have “the best potential to reduce the cost of energy spending by the city and reduce the amount of global warming pollution produced by the city.”
The programs, he said, would “provide both economic and quality of life benefits” that include energy savings, open space preservation, better air quality, reduced traffic congestion, more transportation choices and economic development and job creation through conservation and new technology.
There are a number of avenues that city leaders have promised to explore.
Among them is upping the fuel efficiency of municipal vehicles and reducing their number.
The city is also looking bio-diesel fuel for its diesel trucks.
It is seeking to “make energy efficiency a priority through building code improvements, retrofitting city facilities” with better lighting and encouraging employees to find ways to save energy.
It hopes, too, to “increase the use of clean, alternative energy.”
The city is also investigating ways to adopt and enforce land use policies “that reduce sprawl, preserve open space and create compact, walkable neighborhoods.”
Also on the agenda are more transportation options, including possible bicycle trails, car pooling incentives, public transit initiatives and programs to reduce commuter trips.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
25 comments:
Maybe we should look at the Center Mall site as a Transportation center. People could take buses, the rail lines are right there also. This would get people out of their cars in the downtown area and just might produce some economic results for the area. With the state raking in so much extra income from the state gas tax, there should be money out there to help improve our infrastructure. That is if that extra money is really being spent on Transportation initiatives. Everybody loves to talk about the need to do this or that, but in the end what are our options if we want to take mass transit for our commute? Not much, so we just have to keep on driving. Just an idea, which seems to be more than the current administration has for that site.
Every municipality should be doing this type of policy investigation.
Good Job Craig. It is not fancy, requires hard work and imput but it is what an elected official should do. Think about the future. Remember think globaly act localy
Something that might be considered with some variations.
However, it does not bring in tax dollars and help the city budget.
A parking garage is almost a must, and when used by commuters, provides customers for the nearby businesses, before and after taking the bus or train.
Keep the ideas coming.
How about reducing the work week to 4 days for some departments?
Many other municipalities are dong this already.
I agree about the lack of help to the city budget, unless you pay to park. If people are out of their cars at 6pm and in the downtown area it might bring customers to local business and begin to create some economic activity in the area. I would love to park my car and ride the train or bus to work in Hartford and save money on gas. It could also bring people into Bristol who otherwise just drive on through to work. Doesn't have to be the whole site, but just part of it. I do not mind paying extra tax on gas if it is being used to help our infrastructure and not just down in Fairfield County.
Transportation Center for what ???? To get Mugged ???
Do we have a city Arborist or something like that?
A plan to keep more trees in Bristol, especially in the newly developed areas and around municipal buildings would be great. Trees would help with keeping buildings cooler and with flooding from runoff, especially given the increase in urban sprawl in our state. Other towns are taking on this initiative too, like Danbury. Let's be ahead of the curve on this one. More tree-lined streets.
"Transportation Center for what ???? To get Mugged ???"
How is that a productive statement?
Craig who?
I have always wondered as I poured my 5 gallons of waste oil into the container at the transfer station whether Public Works had ever investigated using the oil for heat. Many other public and private entities do so, especially for buildings where space for multiple type of heating units is available,like maintenance facilities and garages.
I would welcome some feedback from Public Works or any other department that might be involved in making a decision on what happens with the waste oil collected in Bristol. Perhaps we are paid enough for the product that the cost of equipment to burn it wouldn't be justified. It would be nice to know just what does happen to that oil, and what might be possible down the road.
john cullen
Reducing the work week to 4 days results in minimal savings.
Cops still patrol 7 days/week. Fire Department resopnds to calls 7 days/week.
Trash pickup still covers same streets, whether it be 3-4-5-6 days.
So fuel savings are virtually nil.
Building still has to be heated and cooled, albeit with some savings in adjusting the thermostat.
But you are still heating and cooling 35 hours week, unless the proposal means reduced work hours and reduced salary.
Workers will save by not driving to work the 5th day IF, IF, they don't use that day to drive somewhere else.
Will Library close, will Senior Center close?
There are many other ways to save that will result in real savings, but the mayor has to get others to agree.
You are right about the 4 day work week in man ways, but it is still an interesting topic. It leads to many other quetions to consider.
Can City Hall be closed 1 day a week?
Can certain departments be closed one day a week? Would it even make a difference to the city's bottom line?
Keeping cars off the road is good for everyone (less wear and tear on the roads, less emission of CO2, etc), but is it worth the trade off?
I think it is great that their is even a dialogue about this topic.
I also like the post that brought up the topic of a town arborist.
I am of the opinion that the topic of a 4 day week, with minimal savings is a feel good approach and a way to avoid the issue of organization and staffing levels.
I doubt that this mayor will work towards and/or support reduction of staff, as that is the basis of his support.
Keep in mind that, on average, each reduction is worth a minimum of $50,000.00/yr.
What ever happened to the mayors study and report on employee vehicle usage?
I haven't heard anything since, or did I miss somehing?
Sounds and smells like natural gas (methane) to me.
Another Ward smoke screen.
Does Ward have a clue?
Maybe Collins will follow up on Ward vehicle usage analysis.
Shouldn't that study have produced some newsworthy results?
Or maybe it didn't?
Any progress on the mayors vehicle study and analysis?
Or was that just another diversion?
No, just another PR gimmick!!
And what will he do if he has a question, follow the driver?
Sounds like Frank Longo.
What do you think Steve, now that Artie is back maybe we will get a report on vehicle usage?
Steve,
Guess not, huh???
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