SEBASTIAN — At their May 6 meeting, members of the Sebastian Natural Resources Board were introduced to Cynthia Watson, the new Environmental Specialist hired to fill the position which, with several others, was eliminated during the budget crunch a few years ago.
With the environment in general and the Indian River Lagoon in particular holding a front-and-center position currently, the news was welcome and, long sought by Sebastian’s Community Development staff and the City Council.
In March, Council gave then-Interim City Manager Joe Griffin the go-ahead to undertake a search to fill the position after he told them that recent environmental issues had led him to the certainty that “the time has come to add back onto the Community Development (staff)” an individual knowledgeable in city environmental issues as well as grant writing.
“There is no doubt in my mind that we have not gone after as many grants” as the City might have, and that “We have had to outsource” and rely on consultants, adding further cost.
Bringing the position back on staff “will make us look better and act more efficiently,” Griffin said then.
At that time, Mayor Bob McPartlan had commented, “I’m in favor of adding that position. Do the math. It pays for itself.”
Watson told the Natural Resources Board she is excited to be working with the City and that she will serve as Board liaison to the City Manager and the Council.
“The City Manager,” she said, “wants you to know that you are important to the City.”
As more and more environmental issues occur, having a point-person would help consolidate the City’s environmental services and allow the City to deal with them more efficiently and economically.
The Board has been operating without a budget and members discussed their desire to request a modest budget in order to cover costs related to the several activities they conduct each year.
“We’ve had to scrounge in the past,” Board Chair Robin Graves remarked.
Referring to a very popular bird feeder project at the recent Earth Day Celebration involving peanut butter and bird seed, Board member Ann Lucier said that, in past years, grocery stores “would just give you several jars of peanut butter. Now they have to go through ‘Corporate’ for four or five jars of peanut butter and it takes weeks. I just bought the peanut butter and seeds myself.”
Watson told the Board that City Manager Griffin specifically “wants you to put a budget together,” and suggested specific line items and dollar figures. “I’ll put together a request for you.”
The Board batted around several items that could use funding: gas for the Island Clean-Up boats; replacing the park letter boxes (used in a popular outdoor adventure game); advertising to promote the annual Earth Day Celebration; among other projects.
Board member Al Alvarez talked about another project, oyster beds, which the City wants the Board to investigate. It is likely, he said, that the City will cover the cost of that project.
After some lively discussion about how much to request, Watson reiterated she’d be happy to take their list and craft a proposal.
