The City Council tabled the New York State Climate Smart Communities pledge prior to Monday’s voting session.

The resolution was tabled as a result of questions and concerns from both City Council members and local residents in Jamestown.

During a short work session before Monday’s voting session, City Councilman Brent Sheldon, R-Ward I, asked Mayor Eddie Sundquist if the Board of Public Utilities had discussed the potential adoption of the New York State Climate Smart Communities pledge and how that might affect operations such as the gas turbine.

“The BPU has not discussed this resolution, but they did receive grant funding to study the gas turbine, as well as study other geothermal heat sources,” Sundquist said. “They are looking at that. I think the biggest question is we’re not quite sure where the state is going to land yet on the climate action.”

Asked if the climate pledge could potentially impact operations at the BPU, Sundquist explained that while the pledge would only be a statement showcasing the city’s intention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, he acknowledged that it could “impact” the BPU “for sure” down the road.

City Councilwoman Kim Ecklund, R-At Large explained that local residents had contacted her suggesting that the City Council “hold off a month” to further discuss the potential impact of the climate change pledge.

Ecklund asked the city administration if either Corporation Counsel Elliot Raimondo or Associate Corporation Counsel Ben Haskin had reviewed the legal implications of the Climate Smart Communities pledge.

“I only review things that I’m asked to review, and I was never asked to review that,” Haskin said.

While Crystal Surdyk, city director of development, indicated that the administration’s legal team had not reviewed the pledge, she suggested that the City Council engage in more discussion over the next month rather than fail to pass the resolution during Monday’s voting session.

“I think that would be a good idea,” City Councilwoman Marie Carrubba, D-Ward IV, said. “Those who read the newspaper today saw it and that’s when we got the phone calls and emails. I think the public felt like they didn’t have an opportunity to really get any words in on it.”

Carrubba explained that people were quick to “jump to the most extreme conclusion” regarding the Climate Smart Communities pledge as a result of widespread misinformation surrounding the topic.

While Carrubba said she is “in favor” of the city administration’s goal to utilize the Climate Smart Communities pledge to help obtain grants for the city, she stressed the issue of “overcommitting” to standards that the city might not be able to successfully meet.

Following the discussion of concerns by City Council members and city residents, Sundquist said that his administration did not have any problem with the council tabling the resolution in order for city officials to address “additional constituent concerns” over the next month.

Asked about the council’s decision to table the resolution, City Council President Anthony Dolce, R-Ward II, reiterated the concerns and confusion of city residents.

“There’s just a lot of misunderstanding of what it is and what it isn’t, and does it lock us into something or is it more conceptual and where’s the BPU with this at this point,” he said. “Rather than just vote no and move on, I think it just needs more time to research it and get it out and make sure that everybody, not only the council, but as well as the constituents and people who have concerns, understand what it really is and what it isn’t.”

With the overabundance of information regarding climate change strategies at the state, county, and city level, Dolce stressed the importance of the City Council doing its “due diligence” to carefully consider the Climate Smart Communities pledge and ensure that local residents fully understand the potential impact of the pledge.