Mansfield, Connecticut

MANSF I ELD , CONNECT I CUT “We haven’t applied for our recognition yet because we’re truly trying to make sustainability a part of our culture in the town,” Kennedy declares. “We’ve brought together all of our relevant boards and commissions and had several workshops with them to make sure that they’re going back to their committees and are having discussions about sustainable practices that they can promote and start working on. That can range from planning and zoning, to historic districts, to arts advisory, to parks and recreation. When we started to tally up our points and all the things that we’re doing, we really are maxing out on all the possible points, which is a testament to what we’ve already done. So, we feel that when we apply, we’re going to prove to the state that we’re a leader in those types of practices and creating that culture.” What will certainly be another testament to Mansfield’s fealty to sustainable practices is the new elementary school that the town is planning to build. Because of declining enrollment over the last decade or so, the Board of Education has decided to consolidate the town’s three elementary schools into one, and over the last year, Kennedy says he has been working with the school building committee to find an appropriate site and a workable budget. “But what’s the most amazing thing about this project has been that the committee is interested in building the first net-zero energy public elementary school in the State of Connecticut,” he states. “That means that the school will not only be a very energy efficient school to bring down the energy load that it would need to operate, but also that any energy that the school would need is produced on site through solar panels or geothermal wells and the like. It’s a very exciting opportunity and we plan to go to referendum this fall to bring it to the voters.” Kennedy quips that when the town finally does apply for its Sustainable CT certification, it won’t receive either a bronze or silver rating, but an entirely new one, which he calls the Mansfield Award. And who knows? It could happen. Serving areas throughout NewYork and all New England states www.garrityasphalt.com FULL DEPTH RECLAMATION FINE GRADING & ROLLING COLD PLANING 22 PETERS ROAD, BLOOMFIELD, CT06002 • (860) 243-2300 860-989-8011 www.drvninc.com 2317 Silas Deane Highway Unit 3, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 Salt Bagged Ice Melt Top Soil (Screened/Unscreened) Sand (Screened/Winter/Septic) Mulch Gravel Tri-Axle Dump Truck Service We are a dependable & reliable source for material manufacturing, procurement and the commodity distribution field for over nineteen years.