The recently formed Green Committee held its first meeting at Mayor Melody Currey’s office last week. The committee’s purpose is to brainstorm and research ways the town can save money, be more energyefficient , and improve its “carbon footprint .”

Committee member Ron Wilson said he would like to see the schools have a broader recycling program. “From the students to the teachers,” he said. “Everything that can be recycled in the schools, should be. Committee member

Howard Satalino suggested a program similar to one that his daughter helped implement at Goodwin School, wherein a Girl Scout troop created decorative recycling boxes. Currey said perhaps Parks and Rec. summer campers could create the boxes for all schools before the year starts.

Vincent Mancini said he experimented driving at precisely the speed limit, and noticed mileage savings. “I get honked at, the finger, I get it all, but I don’t care,” he said. “If you asked patrol cars (unless on an emergency call), and all the guys driving the [town] trucks just to drive the speed limit, that could save a lot of money.”

Currey said one thing she has asked is that police vehicles turn the engine off when they would normally idle.

One thing she asked the committee to look into is the feasibility of putting solar panels at the town’s landfill site to power nearby public works buildings.

One idea discussed was a four-day work week for some town employees.

However, Currey said there are always wrinkles. “Anything you come up with is going to be a good idea, and a bad idea for somebody else,” she said.

A push for better residential recycling was also discussed, including the possibility of producing an educational video . “People don’t know that when they throw all those things in the garbage, it costs them a dollar, instead of cutting a dollar off their taxes,” said committee member Jon Searles.

The town is looking into singlestream recycling barrels, where all recyclable materials can go into one container.

Satolino suggested utilizing students studying for masters degrees in environmental studies, who are looking for projects, to do some of the legwork, specifically in the area of research.

The group agreed that finding one or two projects to focus on for the next few months would be the best way to spend their time.

“Initially, it would be good to brainstorm whatever we can,” Searles said. “We’d have to nail it down to get it done.”

For more information, contact the mayor’s office at 291-7202 .