Director of Sustainability Could be Finalized Next Month

Mayor Greg Fischer is close to announcing Louisville’s new Director of Sustainability. The mayor has narrowed the field to three candidates, and expects to make the final decision next month.The position’s job description is broad, covering everything from the city’s climate action plan to green jobs. Mayor's spokesman Chris Poynter says there have been internal discussions about whether to narrow the responsibilities.“Should it be totally focused on creating green jobs and economic development?” he asked. “Should it be totally focused on making our city greener and making our government buildings more efficient? And we decided that it needs to do both.”Poynter says even though the Office of Sustainability will consist of just one person—the director—all other Metro Government departments will work with the office.“For example, they’ll be doing a lot of work with the Public Works Department and their staff on everything from recycling to retrofitting the buildings to make them more energy efficient,” he said. “So even though it is a one-person office, they do have access to the city government employee pool.”Poynter says Fischer expects to choose the new director by mid to late December. $100,000 was budgeted for the director’s salary in this year’s metro budget.