The Council on Sustainability convened by the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth (UMD) Sustainability Initiative and the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) held a forum entitled "Leading the Way: Communities Building a Sustainable Region" on December 2, 2010 at the Advanced Technology and Technology Center in Fall River. The program featured elected officials, government employees, and community activists who have been developing sustainability programs that are advancing fiscal responsibility, ecological restoration and building resilient communities. Issues related to alternatives to automobile transportation, such as bicycles and buses, were also addressed. Mass In Motion is working on plans to develop bicycle routes and multi-modal transportation within Southcoast communities. Click here for photos of a previous meeting on transportation. For more information about the Council, contact the Director of the Office of Campus and Community Sustainability Susan Jennings at 508-910-6484. For more information about Mass In Motion in Fall River, contact Julie Kelly at 508-324-2405.
 

(Top row, left) Harold Mayer of Areresco talks with Fall River Department of Public Works director Ken Pacheco and city administrator Shawn Cadime. (Top row, center and right) Conference organizing committee chairman Glenn Bachman welcomes participants and then introduces Fall River Mayor William Flanagan. (Middle row, left) New Bedford Mass In Motion coordinator Pauline Hamel and Fall River Mass In Motion coordinator Julie Kelly applaud the presentation by John Bullard, former New Bedford Mayor and director of the SEA pSemester Program, and speak to him during the break about the development of bicycle routes between Fall River and New Bedford. (Bottom row, center)  The Healthy City Fall River display is one of several available to participants during the break. (Bottom row, right) Al Oliveira, Manager of Municipal Buildings and Special Projects for the City of Fall River describes the benefits of using energy service companies to reduce costs.