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Norwalk committee discusses permanence, staffing and cross‑department review for sustainability roadmap
Summary
Committee members debated whether the ad hoc committee should become permanent, called for department vetting of recommendations and asked staff to prepare documentation and handover steps to ensure the roadmap and dashboard continue beyond the current contract.
Chair Lopez opened a discussion of structural options for the ad hoc sustainability committee, describing a two‑phase process: committee members and task force will review options and provide feedback; staff will consolidate comments and send recommendations to city departments to determine administrative and budgetary implications.
Council members urged department vetting before broad public outreach. "I think before we ask for a ton of community feedback on that it should be vetted with the department heads and with this group as well," Mr. Buckle said. Mr. Digenshine suggested the "Norwalk 2050" name could be adopted more broadly by the city and advised staff to consult Jen McMurray on whether it should be used as a master plan goal.
Several members raised continuity concerns if the present staff lead leaves. Committee members recommended building operational documentation so the dashboard maintenance and data‑collection processes can be continued by city staff or contractors. "I would really think that this committee should become a permanent committee," Mr. Digenshine said, urging the council to consider formalizing the group's status to ensure long‑term integration across departments.
Staff committed to circulating chapter drafts to committee members and to coordinating with department heads; no formal structural change was adopted at the meeting.
