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The Windsor Town Council voted 5-0 on Tuesday, May 30, to appoint one of its members, Edward “Gibbie” Dowdy, to the Isle of Wight County Energy Task Force.

Councilman Jake Redd was not present at the time of the vote.

In a memo to the Windsor mayor and Town Council, Windsor Town Manager William Saunders shared details on the task force.

“The task force was initiated to review the county’s energy infrastructure, as well as future energy projects and technologies,” he stated.

He noted that the initial makeup of the task force was one member from each district of the county with two at-large members.

At its April 6 meeting, the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors considered a request from a Smithfield Town Council member who wanted to sit on the task force, Saunders stated. He added that the supervisors came to a consensus whereby the task force’s two at-large members would be appointed by the towns of Windsor and Smithfield.

Saunders indicated that acceptable appointees would include members of Town Council, the Planning Commission, the town Economic Development Authority or other citizens. 

“However, town staff members would not be appropriate appointees,” he stated.

The subject of the Energy Task Force appointment was introduced to the Windsor Town Council as an item under the category of new business during the council’s May 9 meeting. At that time, council members requested more information on what being a member of the task force would entail in terms of the time commitment.

Saunders shared this information in his May 30 memo, which stated that at the time of its writing, the task force meetings were expected to be monthly and held at 4 p.m.

“The task force kick-off meeting is tentatively planned for June 5,” he stated.

He noted that the duration of the task force will be approximately one year.

Windsor Mayor George Stubbs called on recommendations or volunteers at the Town Council’s special meeting May 30.

Dowdy said, “I’ll volunteer if nobody else does. I have no problem working with that.”