(10/22) On October 16 the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland announced that the Town of Thurmont was one of seventeen Maryland municipalities honored at the Sustainable Maryland Awards Ceremony at the Maryland Municipal League’s annual Fall Conference.

"The Town of Thurmont is extremely proud to once again obtain this touted recognition and certification," said Mayor John Kinnaird. "Our staff and our Green Team have worked tirelessly to educate our citizens about sustainability and the results are very indicative of how important these efforts are to our community. I sincerely appreciate everyone’s hard work and dedication."

Sustainable Maryland is an initiative of the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland, designed to support Maryland's 157 municipalities as they look for cost-effective and strategic ways to protect their natural assets and revitalize their communities. Using best practices in resource areas like water, energy, planning, health, food, and economy, a municipality can earn points toward sustainability certification. This free and voluntary program, with the support of the Maryland Municipal League and the US Environmental Protection Agency helps communities choose a direction for their greening efforts; complete their chosen actions with help from program tools, trainings, expert guidance, and other resources; and be recognized statewide for their accomplishments.

To achieve certification, municipalities are required to form a Green Team comprised of local residents, community leaders, municipal staff and officials; complete a variety of sustainability-related actions worth a total of at least 150 points (including two mandatory actions and two of six priority actions), and submit the appropriate documentation as evidence that the Sustainable Maryland Certified requirements have been satisfied.

During the conference, some highlights of Thurmont’s accomplishments were mentioned. They include, but are not limited to: the establishment of the Thurmont Farmers Market and the 2017 Clustering Ordinance. The Farmers Market in Thurmont was established by the Main Street Thurmont organization in 2005 and continues today as one of the strongest and most well attended markets in Frederick County. Thurmont’s Planning and Zoning Commission, as well as the Mayor and Commissioners, passed an ordinance in 2017 implementing a Residential Clustering Ordinance, allowing developers and builders to construct residential homes on smaller lots, without increasing the density of the homes. The remaining square footage not utilized for the homes must be set aside for environmental uses such as forestation, storm water management, or approved open space.

According to Mike Hunninghake, Program Manager for Sustainable Maryland, "This year’s seventeen Sustainable Maryland Certified communities, a record number since the program’s inception in 2011, represent a broad and deep commitment to addressing the environmental challenges of our time. We are pleased to recognize the Green Teams, elected officials, and municipal staff that are working hard every day ensure a sustainable future for their communities, our state, and our planet."