Municipal

The Town of Needham has a strategic focus on and a commitment to sustainability. Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick introduced this theme in her 2008 Budget proposal, published in January, 2007. Principles guiding the development of sustainable communities have been developed by the International City/County Management Association and formalized in a Sustainable Communities Commitment, a copy of which the Town Manager incorporated into the Budget Message section of her proposed 2010 Budget.

The Town Manager created the NeedEnergy Committee of managers and staff to oversee efforts to reduce energy use. The NeedEnergy Committee's work is summarized:

• in the 2009 Budget submission, on page 1-12
• in the 2010 Budget submission, on page 1-6

• Energy Improvement Update by Public Facilities for the Home Energy Seminar March 30, 2009

• Municipal Sustainability Initiatives and Projects

• How Green is my Town? is an online resource for citizens and local officials drawing from government and non-profit agencies. How Green is my Town? is a project of Grassroots Environmental Education, an educational non-profit based on Long Island.

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