Green Forums

About the Forum

The Green Forum is best described as the most comprehensive green brainstorming session ever conducted in Madison. It is cosponsored by the MEC, Sustainable Madison AC, Shade Tree MB, Open Space, Recreation Advisory Committee and Parks Advisory Committee. Most significantly, this forum led to Madison's adoption of R 207-2013 - Resolution of the Borough of Madison Supporting a Community Vision of a Green Madison (PDF).

Newspaper Article

The following article, originally published in the Madison Eagle, Thursday, January 3, 2013, describes the Forum in greater detail:

MADISON – Hopes are high that a cross-section of the community will join in a special forum this month to brainstorm about how Madison can “go green” to save the environment – and save dollars.

The “Green Forum,” a community round table event, is described as “ground-breaking opportunity” for residents, businesses, Mayor Robert Conley, the Borough Council and the borough administration to discuss how Madison’s natural spaces, transportation, homes and businesses could become more “green.”

The event, sponsored by the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee, the Open Space, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, the Shade Tree Management Board, the Madison Environmental Commission and the Parks Advisory Committee, took place from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 at the Ehinger Center on the campus of Drew University, 36 Madison Ave. 
 

Survey Key To Forum

     Betsy Uhlman, who chaired the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee, said the “Green Forum” grew out of a survey conducted by the committee at Madison’s “Bottle Hill Day” downtown street fair last Oct. 6.
    More than 100 residents identified “greening” homes and businesses, transportation issues and natural spaces as the key areas for improving Madison’s resource conservation and protection.
    She said the “Green Forum” will offer a deeper discussion of Madison’s opportunities and hurdles in these areas over the next five to 10 years, with the Borough Council and administration listening.

Mayor Conley kicked off the evening, with Michael Kopas, chairman of the Shade Tree Management Board and Melissa Honohan, chairwoman of the Open Space, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.
     “Every person had the chance to be part of the discussion of the three topics: ‘Green Spaces,’ ‘Getting Around Madison’ and ‘Greening Homes and Businesses’,” Honohan explained. “We divided the group into three parts and each circulated through the roundtable discussions. 
     Uhlman added, “Madisonians care about our environment because we all work to make the town so vibrant. This is an unprecedented chance for Madison residents to bring forward strategic issues and help to set the direction for our borough’s resources. We hope over 50 residents will come out on a winter night to offer their vision for Madison.”
 
                 The email contact for the program is greenforum@rosenet.org.