Sustainability Team

Team Members:

Tanya M. Bourgoin (D), Co-Chair
Amalia Shaltiel (D), Co-Chair
Amber R. McDonnell (U), Secretary
Adam P. Bristol (D)
A. Tereza Garrity (R)
Kayle A. Lopez (U)
Honora L. Myers (U)
David P. Oakes (U)
Jesse S. Scott (D)
R. Wade Tomlinson (D)

1 Plains Road
 P.O. Box 385
 Moodus, CT  06469
sustainability.team@easthaddam.org

The East Haddam Sustainability Team meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Office Complex, Meeting Room 3. The public and volunteers are welcome to attend or to send comments to sustainability.team@easthaddam.org.

The Sustainability Team was created by a supporting resolution of the Board of Selectmen on January 16, 2019 and repopulated by the Board of Selectmen in April 2022.  The team is also the project of an agreement of the Town of East Haddam to participate in the Sustainable CT program.

Sustainable CT is a nonprofit organization created through the council of municipalities with a mission to foster inclusive, resilient, and vibrant Connecticut municipalities that provide opportunities through which all can thrive.  Sustainable CT provides a menu of sustainable actions that build local economies, support equity, and respect the finite capacity of the environment; offering technical assistance to help advance sustainability initiatives; and recognizing and certifying municipalities for their achievements.

The mission of the team is to document, support and educate municipal and local organizations and residents of East Haddam on best sustainable practices to create a thriving and equitable community, using guidelines and support from Sustainable CT.

The Sustainability Team, local organizations, Board of Education and town staff completed 20 actions in 2022 and as a result, the Town of East Haddam was awarded Bronze Certification. The certification action report can be accessed here. 

In the Spring of 2024 East Haddam Sustainability Team and our local partners advanced the town forward to achieve Silver Certification.  The documented actions can be viewed here .

In the fall, the Town of East Haddam received Climate Leader Designation for the following actions.

Our focuses in 2024 are: 

  • Collaboration with Public Works Department on Recycling and Composting Education. 
  • Collaboration with Economic Development Commission on a Business Directory  
  • Supporting the Broadband Implementation Committee in their Campaign to educate residents and businesses about community broadband. 
  • Collaboration with the Conservation Commission on Invasive Species Education.  A Community Resilience Building Workshop with the Nature Conservancy and a conversation         on forest management initiatives.
  • Partnering with Energize CT for Home Energy Assessment for income eligible residents and a Heat Pump Campaign.
  • Informing Businesses about C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy), an innovative solution enabling all types of commercial properties to make green upgrades         to new and existing buildings. Higher performing buildings are made possible thanks to an experienced contractor network and access to attractive financing repaid through a        simple and secure repayment mechanism. East Haddam is a member of C-PACE program.
  • Hosting a second Repair Cafe.
  • Support Scout Troop 22 in their Community Fundraising Campaign for a new container for returnable recycling and the Transfer Station.
  • Support Equity Initiatives for families of neurodiverse individuals by creating sensory-safe spaces at community events.

In 2025 we plan to continue supporting these initiatives, expand our recycling initiatives to include plastic film, and expand our connection with Sustainability Teams in surrounding towns for regional impact.