BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This Week

POTSDAM — A discussion of the village’s finances and how that information will be accessible to trustees is on the agenda for the next Potsdam village board of trustees meeting Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m.

The board was originally planning to hold a separate meeting for the discussion with village treasurer Isabelle Gates-Shult, but canceled that session to allow more time to implement the municipality's new ClearGov software system. That system, village officials have said, will streamline the process of managing the day to day finances of the village.

The discussion is planned in light of concerns raised in past meetings by Trustee Monique Tirion that village trustees needed greater access to the village’s day to day financial data so they could make more informed decisions on certain resolutions.

Also on the agenda for the Tuesday meeting, the village board is expected to appoint village planner Fred Hanss as the Climate Smart Community Coordinator for a year long term. The appointment is a mandatory action item for the village to maintain its Climate Smart Community Bronze certification.

A new Climate Smart Community Task Force roster will also be considered by the mayor and trustees at the Tuesday meeting.

On the task force are: Erik Backus, town resident, P.E., Clarkson University; Karen Bage, town resident, Community Coordinator St. Lawrence Health Initiative; David Bradford, village resident; Mark Cornett, town resident; Jan DeWaters, village resident, Ph.D., Clarkson University; Alex French, village resident; Lynn Hall, village resident, town coordinator, town council; Frederick Hanss, village coordinator, Village of Potsdam Planning & Development Office; Louise Jensen, village resident, Northern Power and Light Community Energy Advocate; Carlie Leary, ANCA; Chip Morris, town resident, co-chair; Thomas Ortmeyer, village resident, Ph.D., Clarkson University; Christine Paige, town resident, town council; Susan Powers, village resident, Ph.D., Clarkson University; Lauren Prentice, St. Lawrence Health; Rose Rivezzi, village resident, co-chair; Carol Strome, village resident; Monique Tirion, village resident, Potsdam Village Board; and Eileen Visser, town resident, Ph.D., St. Lawrence University.

Finally, the board will vote on a resolution to set a public hearing for March 4 at 5:45 p.m. on the abandonment and decommissioning of Liberty Street.