By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM – The Village of Potsdam Board of Trustees voted to join many municipalities in the state as a Climate Smart Community who have agreed to strive to become more environmentally active.

The four members of the board present at Monday’s meeting – Mayor Ron Tischler and trustees Steve Warr, Nick Sheehan and Abby Lee – all voted for the resolution defining the framework for participation in the state-supported program.

The resolution said that under the program, the village would pledge “to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate.”

The main concern of the board members seemed to be what the declaration would cost in terms of staff time and resources.

There is not much understanding yet of the dollar issues involved, said Lee.

Village Planning and Development Director Fred Hanss agreed there would be some draw on staff time.

But the consensus of the board was that their first efforts will be in areas that the village already has in the works or has already agreed to pursue, such as getting the East Dam hydro plant in operable condition and, over the long term, converting village lighting to LED lamps. It would also fit in with parts of the current village comprehensive plan.

“Some of these things we’ll be doing anyway,” Trustee Warr said.

There is no current estimate of the resources that would be required, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation will make some funds available, and Clarkson University, whose representatives have made Climate Smart presentations to the village and town boards, has committed to participation, particularly with a microgrid plan for the village.

Trustees also agreed that no timeline will be imposed.

More than 200 communities statewide, including the Village of Norwood and the Town of Potsdam, have adopted the pledge.

According to th4 DEC, of the Climate Smart Communities can take action in two main ways: to minimize the risks of climate change and reduce its long-term costs:

“Adapting to a Changing Climate: Altering the built and natural environment in anticipation of predicted climatic changes, or in response to actual changes, will alleviate the risks associated with unavoidable changes in climate,” DEC’s CSC web page says.