Village Begins Discussions About Environmental Commission

While Buffalo Grove officials agree that an environmental commission could be an asset to the village, it will likely take some time before such a team comes to fruition.

Trustees began discussions last week about the commission, which was proposed by Trustee Lisa Stone earlier this month.  During the Oct. 18 meeting, Stone suggested inviting Buffalo Grove residents and well as people from bordering villages to participate.

"We need to be mindful not only of what is happening in our community, but in the surrounding communities and how it affects them," Stone said.

Trustee Jeff Braiman said he'd like to see the commission limited to Buffalo Grove residents. And, he added, it should have a wider environmental scope than Buffalo Grove's Land and Lakes landfill — one of Stone's concerns that has been thrust into the limelight in recent months.

"This commission, as I look at it, is not geared just to Land and Lakes," Braiman said.

Trustee Jeff Berman said the commission's scope should be well-defined so that its mission doesn't duplicate efforts made by other groups, such as the village's health commission.

"I would not want to see two committees doing the exact same thing," Trustee Beverly Sussman agreed.

The work of the Buffalo Grove Park District's Environmental Action Commission should also be taken into consideration, said Village President Elliott Hartstein, who emphasized that the village's group should have a "meaningful function."

Rather than rush into forming their own commission, "We've really got to roll up our sleeves and do our homework," he said.