Climate Smart Community Task Force

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Climate Smart Communities

Climate Smart Communities is a New York State program that encourages municipalities to take a variety of actions that reduce emissions, save energy, reduce waste, and conserve resources. High status in the program helps municipalities to obtain grant funding for conservation and climate action projects. 

Task Force Formation

On October 10, 2023, the Victor Town Board passed a resolution pledging to create and educate our community to be more engaged in climate friendly actions, reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. To ensure that these goals were met A Resolution was passed on February 12, 2024, establishing a Climate Smart Community Task Force comprised of both employees of the Town of Victor and community members.

Members

  • Casey Paige – CSC Coordinator, Town of Victor Waste Diversion Coordinator
  • Jen Tipton – Town Council Member
  • Richard O’Donnell – Finance Director
  • Suzy Mandrino – Manager of Technology Support
  • Keith Maynard – Project Manager for Planning and Building 
  • Carla Jordan - Ontario County Director of Sustainability and Solid Waste Management
  • Christine Lockwood – Community Member
  • Barbara Starr – Community Member

Mission

The CSC Task Force is committed to implementing climate smart initiatives that promote clean energy, lower emissions and sustainability within our community through education and action items that incorporate the interests and needs of our residents.

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following.

Most Recent Agenda | View All Agendas & Minutes

Accomplishments by Action

  1. Building a Climate Smart Community – Held four meetings during 2025 to collaborate and gather information, ideas, and project status of current projects and goals associated with CSC Actions.
    1. February 19, 2025 – discussed meeting with RGE to find out status of completing paperwork to begin progression of converting all overhead illumination lights in the Town to LED and updates on charging station project. 
    2. April 30, 2025 – Native species presentation, EV charging station status and LED lighting upgrades in Town buildings.
    3. May 28, 2025 – New charging stations and software, landfill closure survey questions, website creation ideas.
    4. September 24, 2025 – Color your Community Green presentation – distributed energy savings kits to all the members in attendance
  2. Inventory Emissions, set goals and Plan for Climate Action – 2026 goal.
  3. Decrease Energy Use –2025:  upgraded lighting in Town buildings to LED lighting.  
  4. Shift to clean renewable energy – new land purchased December 2025 future building plans could incorporate renewable energy resources.
  5. Use Climate Smart Materials Management: - Waste audit completed for all Town Buildings 2024, recycling and organics waste programs continue in town buildings, residential organic waste program continues for residents. Advertise sneaker recycling program through VHT. 
  6. Implement climate-smart land use – Comprehensive Plan continues to be reviewed and updated to incorporate sustainability elements (green infrastructure).  Working on update for 2026. Continued implementation of biking and walkability plans for Town.
  7. Enhance Community Resilience to Climate Change - have incorporated shade structures into parks, streambank stabilization and stormwater management projects continue throughout the town. Continued incorporation of Native Species into our landscape at Town owned lands.
  8. Support Green Innovative Economy – Village Farmer’s Market offered to residents from June – October. 
  9. Inform and inspire the public - May 2025 hosted compost education class. Collaboration with Color Your Community Green to encourage community involvement in climate friendly ideas, actions and activities. Created Climate Smart Community portal on website. Town of Victor website and Facebook communication on all recycle events and waste reduction opportunities (County events, Swap Shop, etc.)
  10. Engage in an evolving process of climate action – Annual report completed for 2025.
  11. Innovation – 2025 purchase our first electric vehicle in the Town’s fleet.
  12. Performance – Implemented actions will be tracked and reported.

Challenges:

  1. Securing funding for climate smart actions
  2. Staff resources
  3. Constant state and local government policy changes 
  4. Political leadership changes that affect momentum of projects

2026 Goals:

  1. Update to Green Infrastructure Plan.
  2. Plan for renewable energy resources in new buildings (Parks and Highway)
  3. Purchase another electric or hybrid vehicle to add to the fleet.
  4. Continue to build on to our Climate Smart Community Website
  5. Add more community members to our Climate Smart Community Task Force
  6. Invite Color Your Community Green Organization to have educational booth at Town of Victor event to gain more community involvement.

Climate Smart Communities (CSC)

Certified Climate Smart Communities (CSCs) represent New York’s foremost leaders in local climate action. Local governments that are designated as Certified CSCs have undergone a rigorous review process to confirm their completion of a suite of concrete actions that mitigate and adapt to climate change.

The benefits of participating in the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Certification program include the following:

  • Better scores on grant applications for some state funding programs, like DEC’s CSC Grants
  • State-level recognition for each community’s leadership
  • A robust framework to organize local climate action and highlight priorities
  • Streamlined access to resources, training, tools and expert guidance
  • Networking and sharing best practices with peers

By implementing certification actions, communities experience the following benefits:

  • Cost savings through greater efficiency
  • Greater energy independence and energy security
  • Improved air quality from switching to clean energy
  • Healthier, more walkable urban centers through smart growth
  • Conservation of green spaces for recreation and biodiversity
  • Reduction of future flood risk through climate change adaptation strategies
  • Investment in an economy that supports sustainability and green businesses
  • Greater engagement with residents who care about the future of their hometowns

NEW CHARGING STATIONS LOCATED IN PARKING LOT BEHIND TOWNHALL 

The Town of Victor is striving to create a healthy and sustainable environment by investing in clean energy solutions and initiatives to reduce emissions and support New York State’s climate action goals through building out the electric vehicle market and electric vehicle infrastructure for our community and Town operations. 

These six (6) charging stations were purchased utilizing RG&E grant incentives and ARPA funds.

The Town has purchased one EV truck to be used by our Planning & Building department.

EV Chargers at Town HallEV Charging Stations behind Town Hall

Evoke Charging Station screen

TOV Truck at EV Charging station

TOV Truck w EV Logo

EV Chargers at Town Hall