Always replace divots.
It was a lesson David Carroll?s father hammered into him as a young boy on the golf course, a gesture of common courtesy for players to come.
Tuesday, Carroll compared his new role as Baltimore County?s first-ever “director of sustainability” ? a newly created Cabinet-level position to promote environmental efficiency in day-to-day government and in the private sector ? to a divot-replacer.
“It?s not for the timid,” Carroll said. “It requires bold and sustained and funded actions.”
Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith announced the new position Tuesday, joining other local governments including Baltimore City and Howard County in creating new offices to evaluate the environmental footprint of government.
Carroll, who has served as director of the county?s Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management since February 2001, will be replaced by Jonas Jacobson, an aide to Smith since 2007.
Bill Jones, the county?s military base realignment coordinator, will assume some of Jacobson?s responsibilities.
The appointments, which officials say have no financial effect, are subject to confirmation by the County Council.
Carroll and Jacobson currently make $141,700 and $145,000, respectively.
Smith made the announcement from the under-construction Vincent Farm Elementary School in White Marsh ? which will feature eco-friendly features such as a geothermal heating and air conditioning system ? in conjunction with Earth Day.
“We are borrowing from the future, burdening generations not yet born,” Smith said. “That is an unsustainable approach.”
Carroll acknowledged “sustainability” is a vague term ? a Google search yields nearly 4 million matches, he said.
Top priorities, he said, will be conducting an inventory of the county?s greenhouse gas emissions and coordinating a “network” of county department heads, conservationists and members of the county?s environmental advisory commission.
The first step is to develop a strategy within six months, said Russell Donnelly, a member of that commission.
“This brings everyone together for a more cohesive effort,” Donnelly said.
