Intern outlines Sustainable CT work and plans invasive‑species outreach event

Emma Vanisco, an intern participating via Teams, briefed the commission on progress toward Sustainable CT certification and an invasive‑species outreach project.

Vanisco said she has been preparing a community wrap brochure and an equity‑toolkit submission and proposed a combined presentation and short walk at a local park (examples discussed included Jiggs Donahue and Toro Field) as an invasive species event. She explained the certification scoring system and that the commission must assemble documentation to claim actions: ‘‘You click on something like stewarded land and natural resources… and here we have create a natural resource and wildlife inventory… I did mark that complete,’’ Vanisco said, describing how she screenshots minutes, submitted checklists and added evidence to their Sustainable CT dashboard.

Timing and staffing: commissioners discussed timing and staff‑capacity constraints. Staff and commissioners said they have about 22,000 points toward past certification tiers and that silver certification is a 500‑point goal requiring more documentation and inter‑departmental coordination. Vanisco and commissioners noted the application review rounds run twice a year and that some documentation must be submitted before the early‑August cycle to be considered in the current round.

Next steps: commissioners offered to help identify a site and suggested circulating available Saturdays in September for an event; staff agreed to assist with logistics, and the intern will continue preparing the equity toolkit and documentation for the certification application.