RECREATION COMMISSION
(1 seat available - 3 year term)
Listed In alphabetical order
The Recreation Board’s mission is to provide recreational and educational opportunities to Wellesley residents in the most cost effective manner.
Q1. As you know, Town Meeting passed the Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change in 2020. How do you envision this resolution being carried out by the Recreation Commission during your term? What actions will you champion on the Recreation Board to ensure that the Town meets its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. programs, facilities, and the use of those facilities)?
Nathalie deFontnouvelle
A1. no response to question
Garfield Miller
A1. To help the town of Wellesley meet its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, I envision the Recreation Commission focusing on several key initiatives including, but not limited to:
Encourage Continued Shared Resource Usage: One effective way to reduce emissions is by optimizing the use of existing recreational facilities. By ensuring that spaces are used more efficiently, we can minimize the need for additional infrastructure, which often leads to increased emissions. For instance, encouraging multi-purpose usage of facilities will help reduce the demand for new construction and increase energy efficiency.
Promote After-School Activities On-Site: By promoting after-school programs that are held at school facilities, we can limit the need for individual transportation. This not only reduces emissions from personal vehicles but also enhances the overall accessibility of programs for families in the area. Offering a variety of engaging after-school activities ensures that children and families can enjoy recreational opportunities without the need for long drives.
Advocate Bussing Where Possible: For events such as summer camps, where transportation can often be a challenge for families, advocating for busing services can help alleviate the reliance on personal cars. Coordinated transportation for larger groups reduces the number of cars on the road, which helps lower emissions and makes attending activities more convenient for families.
We can help align the Recreation Commission’s efforts with the Town’s commitment to addressing climate change, ensuring that our programs and facilities contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a meaningful way.
Laurance Stuntz
A1. As a member of the Recreation Commission in 2020, I voted to support the Town's Resolution prior to Town Meeting and I continue to support the goals of the Resolution. On an ongoing basis, over the next three years I plan to work with the Commission staff to continue to reduce our use of resources. We have undertaken actions such as stopping the printing and mailing of our seasonal catalog, which both saved money and reduced waste, and I plan to work with the staff on similar initiatives in the future. In particular, I am interested in the potential for shared community and trust network resources such as sports gear lending libraries, and shared outdoor recreation equipment, making it easier for residents to access resources without the need for individual ownership.
Q2. The Town of Wellesley has set ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including through energy efficiency and sustainable land use. How would you incorporate these goals into your role at the Recreation Department, particularly in areas such as the energy use of town facilities, sustainable practices in recreation programming, or transportation to and from events?
Nathalie deFontnouvelle
A2. no response to question
Garfield Miller
A2. To align with the Town of Wellesley’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, I would focus on integrating energy efficiency, sustainable practices, and transportation solutions into the Recreation Department’s operations. Here are a few key strategies I would prioritize:
Energy Efficiency in Town Facilities: I would advocate regular energy audits of all Recreation Department facilities to identify opportunities for energy savings. This could include updating lighting to energy-efficient LED bulbs, investing in energy-efficient HVAC systems, and exploring the potential for renewable energy sources. By prioritizing energy-efficient upgrades and encouraging the use of green technologies, we can reduce the carbon footprint of our recreational spaces. A good example of this is the renovation of Warren Building and we should continue to look for other opportunities.
Sustainable Practices in Recreation Programming: Sustainability can be incorporated into our recreation programs by encouraging practices that minimize waste, conserve resources, and protect the environment. For example, promoting zero-waste events, encouraging the use of reusable water bottles, and reducing plastic usage in camps and classes can significantly reduce waste. Additionally, implementing nature-based programs, like environmental education and outdoor activities that emphasize conservation, will help raise awareness about sustainability among participants and the community.
Transportation to and from Events: I would work to provide more sustainable transportation options for recreation events. For example, advocating for bus services for large events, summer camps, or community activities can significantly reduce the number of cars on the road, lowering emissions. Additionally, promoting carpooling and offering bike racks at facilities can make it easier for participants to use alternative forms of transportation, encouraging a shift away from reliance on single-occupancy vehicles.
By integrating energy-efficient practices, promoting sustainable activities, and prioritizing eco-friendly transportation solutions, I will help the Recreation Department contribute to Wellesley’s goals for reducing negative impacts on the environment.
Laurance Stuntz
A2. While the Recreation Department and Commission do not own any town facilities, we are a major user of many in town through our summer camps, ongoing community programs, and management of the Morses Pond waterfront in the summertime. In that role, I support increasing car-free access to recreational spaces by improving connectivity through bike paths, pedestrian-friendly routes, and shared transportation options like shuttle services. Over the last few years, we have explored leveraging some money provided by Uber/Lyft fees to the Town as a source of funding for a shared electric van/bus to be used by Recreation and other town departments. I plan to work with our Recreation Director, Matt Chin, and other town departments over the next few years so that we can make that dream a reality.
By emphasizing shared resources in our recreational planning, we can create a more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible system that aligns with Wellesley’s climate action goals while strengthening our community connections.
(1 seat available - 3 year term)
Listed In alphabetical order
The Recreation Board’s mission is to provide recreational and educational opportunities to Wellesley residents in the most cost effective manner.
Q1. As you know, Town Meeting passed the Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change in 2020. How do you envision this resolution being carried out by the Recreation Commission during your term? What actions will you champion on the Recreation Board to ensure that the Town meets its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. programs, facilities, and the use of those facilities)?
Nathalie deFontnouvelle
A1. no response to question
Garfield Miller
A1. To help the town of Wellesley meet its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, I envision the Recreation Commission focusing on several key initiatives including, but not limited to:
Encourage Continued Shared Resource Usage: One effective way to reduce emissions is by optimizing the use of existing recreational facilities. By ensuring that spaces are used more efficiently, we can minimize the need for additional infrastructure, which often leads to increased emissions. For instance, encouraging multi-purpose usage of facilities will help reduce the demand for new construction and increase energy efficiency.
Promote After-School Activities On-Site: By promoting after-school programs that are held at school facilities, we can limit the need for individual transportation. This not only reduces emissions from personal vehicles but also enhances the overall accessibility of programs for families in the area. Offering a variety of engaging after-school activities ensures that children and families can enjoy recreational opportunities without the need for long drives.
Advocate Bussing Where Possible: For events such as summer camps, where transportation can often be a challenge for families, advocating for busing services can help alleviate the reliance on personal cars. Coordinated transportation for larger groups reduces the number of cars on the road, which helps lower emissions and makes attending activities more convenient for families.
We can help align the Recreation Commission’s efforts with the Town’s commitment to addressing climate change, ensuring that our programs and facilities contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a meaningful way.
Laurance Stuntz
A1. As a member of the Recreation Commission in 2020, I voted to support the Town's Resolution prior to Town Meeting and I continue to support the goals of the Resolution. On an ongoing basis, over the next three years I plan to work with the Commission staff to continue to reduce our use of resources. We have undertaken actions such as stopping the printing and mailing of our seasonal catalog, which both saved money and reduced waste, and I plan to work with the staff on similar initiatives in the future. In particular, I am interested in the potential for shared community and trust network resources such as sports gear lending libraries, and shared outdoor recreation equipment, making it easier for residents to access resources without the need for individual ownership.
Q2. The Town of Wellesley has set ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including through energy efficiency and sustainable land use. How would you incorporate these goals into your role at the Recreation Department, particularly in areas such as the energy use of town facilities, sustainable practices in recreation programming, or transportation to and from events?
Nathalie deFontnouvelle
A2. no response to question
Garfield Miller
A2. To align with the Town of Wellesley’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, I would focus on integrating energy efficiency, sustainable practices, and transportation solutions into the Recreation Department’s operations. Here are a few key strategies I would prioritize:
Energy Efficiency in Town Facilities: I would advocate regular energy audits of all Recreation Department facilities to identify opportunities for energy savings. This could include updating lighting to energy-efficient LED bulbs, investing in energy-efficient HVAC systems, and exploring the potential for renewable energy sources. By prioritizing energy-efficient upgrades and encouraging the use of green technologies, we can reduce the carbon footprint of our recreational spaces. A good example of this is the renovation of Warren Building and we should continue to look for other opportunities.
Sustainable Practices in Recreation Programming: Sustainability can be incorporated into our recreation programs by encouraging practices that minimize waste, conserve resources, and protect the environment. For example, promoting zero-waste events, encouraging the use of reusable water bottles, and reducing plastic usage in camps and classes can significantly reduce waste. Additionally, implementing nature-based programs, like environmental education and outdoor activities that emphasize conservation, will help raise awareness about sustainability among participants and the community.
Transportation to and from Events: I would work to provide more sustainable transportation options for recreation events. For example, advocating for bus services for large events, summer camps, or community activities can significantly reduce the number of cars on the road, lowering emissions. Additionally, promoting carpooling and offering bike racks at facilities can make it easier for participants to use alternative forms of transportation, encouraging a shift away from reliance on single-occupancy vehicles.
By integrating energy-efficient practices, promoting sustainable activities, and prioritizing eco-friendly transportation solutions, I will help the Recreation Department contribute to Wellesley’s goals for reducing negative impacts on the environment.
Laurance Stuntz
A2. While the Recreation Department and Commission do not own any town facilities, we are a major user of many in town through our summer camps, ongoing community programs, and management of the Morses Pond waterfront in the summertime. In that role, I support increasing car-free access to recreational spaces by improving connectivity through bike paths, pedestrian-friendly routes, and shared transportation options like shuttle services. Over the last few years, we have explored leveraging some money provided by Uber/Lyft fees to the Town as a source of funding for a shared electric van/bus to be used by Recreation and other town departments. I plan to work with our Recreation Director, Matt Chin, and other town departments over the next few years so that we can make that dream a reality.
By emphasizing shared resources in our recreational planning, we can create a more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible system that aligns with Wellesley’s climate action goals while strengthening our community connections.