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The town of Forest Heights is debating whether it can afford a plan that would replace its administration building's roof with an environmental friendly green version.

During a Nov. 19 town council meeting, town officials and residents discussed whether to replace the current leaking roof in need of repair with a green roof or a traditional flat rooftop. The town is currently accepting proposals and bids for both green roofs and traditional roof tops, with the hope of making a decision by the end of December, in anticipation of winter weather, and starting construction early next year.

A green roof would cover the top of the building with small, low-growing plants. Unlike traditional flat roof tops, a green roof has multiple membrane layers to absorb and drain water run-off that would otherwise pick up pollutants as it flows toward the nearest watershed.

The roof would better insulate the building and reduce energy costs. However, the up-front cost of a green roof is higher, estimated to be about $15 to $25 per square foot, two to three times as much as a traditional new roof that would cost the town about $100,000.

Faced with a shrinking budget for the coming year due to falling home values that have decreased the town's income, the mayor and members of the council questioned whether a green roof would be a responsible financial decision.

"My concern is getting the roof fixed before bad weather [comes]," said Mayor Larry Stoner. "It's a great idea, but we have limited funds."

Stoner said he worries footing the bill for a green roof could be too taxing financially on the town during the next fiscal year.

If town officials choose to build the green roof, the roof would be financed by grants and state bonds totaling more than $200,000 from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, said Jacqueline Goodall, a town council member. However, officials said they could not determine the cost of the green roof until the bidding and proposal process is complete, and the DNR money comes with the stipulation that the town must match the amount in volunteer hours or donations.

Goodall is spearheading the move for a green roof. During the meeting she argued that the roof would last longer than a traditional flat roof and reduce water run-off into the nearby Oxon Cove watershed by soaking up 80 percent of the rainfall on the building.

"We want to reduce the number of pollutants going into Oxon Cove," she said.

The town has been trying to go green since February, when the town council passed an ordinance clearing the way for a green roof in line with state guidelines. The town would also add shrubs around the base of the building that would absorb water run-off and heat during the summer.

"What we have is something that would cost more money upfront but would save the town more money in energy cost in the long run," said Jan Townshend, project manager for the Neighborhood Design Center, an organization providing Forest Heights with an environmentally friendly design.

Townshend said that because of Forest Heights' proximity to Oxon Cove and the Potomac River, pollutants produced in the town quickly flow into the river and the Chesapeake Bay. She said a green roof and the addition of plants around the town hall building would significantly reduce the amount of pollutant-laced water flowing into nearby watersheds.

"The problem around here is that we've built so many hard services that collect rain water and pick up toxins," Townshend said. "All the toxins end up in the Chesapeake Bay."