Honor Canandaigua for EPA Award

Senate Resolution No. 2182 BY: Senator HELMING HONORING the Town of Canandaigua upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the 2017 US EPA Environmental Champion Award by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 2 WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the continuing welfare of the citizens of the State of New York is greatly enriched and reliably served by the purposeful endeavors of associations which are committed to the preservation of our natural environment; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the Town of Canandaigua upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the 2017 US EPA Environmental Champion Award, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 2, to be celebrated at its Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 19, 2017, at its offices in Manhattan, New York; and WHEREAS, The 2017 US EPA Environmental Champion Award recognizes individuals and associations which have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to protecting and enhancing environmental quality and public health; this prestigious award is the highest recognition presented to the public by the Environmental Protection Agency; and WHEREAS, The Town of Canandaigua is a rural, farming community located in the Finger Lakes region of Western New York; with approximately 10 miles of shoreline on Canandaigua Lake, the Town places a high priority on natural resource protection, with water quality protection at the top; and WHEREAS, Over the years, the Town of Canandaigua has moved towards a more sustainable community; it has a strong stormwater management program in place and has recently improved municipal building code language to protect the lake; and WHEREAS, In addition, the Town of Canandaigua drafted a local law to locate faulty septic systems, worked with farmers to reduce run-off and erosion, implemented steps to combat invasive species and helped landowners protect their land from future development, as well as placed additional oversight, via the Environmental Conservation Board, on development near the lake; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, the Town of Canandaigua is fighting to become a more energy efficient community by working to reduce its own energy use while increasing and encouraging the use of clean energy throughout the Town; and WHEREAS, Throughout the years, the Town of Canandaigua has made several moves towards becoming a more sustainable community which places a high priority on finding ways that it can make changes that will result in better protection for its natural resources while still remaining economically viable and without alienating its residents and businesses; and WHEREAS, For its commitment to protecting and preserving the lake and its watershed, the Town of Canandaigua was a recipient of the Partner in Protection Award by the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association (CLWA); and WHEREAS, The success of the Town of Canandaigua is in direct correlation to the efforts of its members and staff, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the environment and the overall community; and WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon all citizens to recognize and applaud the efforts of organizations such as the Town of Canandaigua which work tirelessly on behalf of protecting our natural surroundings for the benefit of present and future generations of New Yorkers; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor the Town of Canandaigua upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the 2017 US EPA Environmental Champion Award by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 2; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Town of Canandaigua.