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Sustainability Committee approves $600 to extend intern through August; staff report flags solar-site tampering and several community events
Summary
Committee voted to add $600 to the sustainability operating budget to keep a summer intern through Aug. 7, heard that someone flipped a shutoff at the Lakeview Village solar site, and received updates on compost relocation, rain‑garden trainings, a paper‑shredding drive and upcoming EV and Sustain Dane events.
The Middleton Sustainability Committee voted to increase summer intern funding by $600 to extend the position through Aug. 7 and heard staff updates on operations, community events and energy infrastructure concerns.
Kelly, the sustainability staff lead, described hiring a rising architecture student for an intern position and requested an additional $600 to keep the intern through the summer. "I've offered her the job," Kelly said, and requested the committee add funds so the intern could continue through Aug. 7. Alder Shaver moved to expand the intern allocation by $600; Dean seconded the motion. After procedural checks and a voice vote, the chair announced, "The motion carries." Kelly said she will formally offer the position and the intern is set to start June 1.
During the staff report, Kelly also told the committee that a shutoff switch for the Lakeview Village solar installation had been flipped. "I think there was...someone flipped the switch for the shutoff of solar," Kelly said; staff are treating it as tampering and are reviewing utility (MG&E), fire and zoning requirements to determine whether additional fencing or other protections are needed.
Other staff and committee updates: the compost site will be moved by the county on June 1; the Green Team reported a planned GreenBox composting trial, youth representative turnover and outreach to local schools; a recent rain garden workshop successfully planted 96 prairie plants and will be followed with a maintenance session on July 25; and a paper‑shredding event on May 29 needs volunteers for setup. Kelly also described an EV 101 event on July 16 (hosted by MG&E at Stonehorse Green) and a Sustain Dane event to be held at Parisi Park on Aug. 18.
Committee members discussed budget tradeoffs and line items to cover the additional intern funds; Kelly said the adjustment could come from several small line items and that the operating budget would remain close to its planned total. The committee voted in favor of the small budget change to secure the intern position and thanked Kelly for staffing and community coordination work.
The committee closed the meeting after standing agenda items and adjourned by voice vote.
