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Winchester Hall / 12 East Church Street
Frederick, Maryland 21701
CONTACT:  Robin K. Santangelo
Public Information Officer
301.600.2590
TTY:  Use Maryland Relay
rsantangelo@fredco-md.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                                                    April 29, 2009

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPOINT CITIZENS TO
NEW SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION

FREDERICK, MD – The Frederick Board of County Commissioners yesterday appointed 13 citizens to the inaugural Sustainability Commission.  The appointees were selected from a strong and diverse applicant pool comprised of 47 applications.

The board formally established the Sustainability Commission by resolution on March 26, 2009, as a fundamental component of the county’s programs in sustainability and environmental leadership.  The commission will evaluate, promote and advance issues related to the long-term environmental, social and economic health of the county.  The members will guide the development of the county’s sustainability plan and encourage community action with regard to sustainable living.

Board President Jan Gardner commented, “We were very pleased with the outpouring of interest and support for the Sustainability Commission, which points to the importance Frederick County citizens place on sustainability and preserving the quality of life we enjoy in our county.  While we could not appoint every applicant to this special commission, all are welcome to attend the open meetings and we invite them to contribute their ideas and time to the projects that will benefit all of our citizens.

Members appointed to the Frederick County Sustainability Commission are:  Don Briggs, Steve Chafitz, Annemarie Creamer, Sally Fullmer, Lisa Gaver, Mark Lancaster, Margie Lance, Richard Maranto, Lisa Orr, Winifred Palmer, Kim Roberts, Fred Ugast and Janice Wiles.

Appointments were made with recognition of the balanced range of interests needed to perform the functions and duties described in the resolution.

In addition to residency and voter registration requirements, appointees were required to have an affiliation or expertise in one or more of the following areas:  energy, sustainable land use and transportation, open space and land preservation, green building practices, air quality/climate, water quality, recycling/waste reduction, environmental justice, education, small and/or local business, green jobs/workforce training, human/environmental health, agriculture/food security, community and grassroots environmental efforts, and finance/governance.

Members of the commission will serve three-year staggered terms.   

The commission’s meetings are open to the public.  The first meeting of the Sustainability Commission will occur on Wednesday, July 15, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. in the third floor meeting room of Winchester Hall, 12 East Church Street, Frederick, Md.

For more information about the commission, contact Director Hilari Varnadore, Office of Environmental Sustainability, at 301-600-7414 or via e-mail at hvarnadore@fredco-md.net. 

To view the resolution approved by the county commissioners or for other details about sustainability, visit www.co.frederick.md.us/sustainability.