Town to adopt state-funded community energy plan and accept historic marker donation honoring early Chinese settlers

Grant administrator Gabrielle Bennett Meany told council the township applied for and received a fully reimbursed planning grant to produce a Community Energy Plan; the planning grant (about $10,000) covered consultant costs to compile strategies such as vehicle electrification and charging infrastructure. Meany said completing the plan is a prerequisite to applying for implementation grants and pointed to prior successes (RGGI-funded school bus purchases and Trees for Schools plantings) as examples of grants already leveraged.

Meany also presented a proposed historic marker developed in partnership with an Asian American/Pacific Islander organization to recognize early Chinese settlers in Belleville. The group will donate the marker and work with the township on placement and an unveiling ceremony; a resolution to accept the donation was placed on the meeting agenda.