2015-09-09 Climate Advisory Committee Minutes

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N OF O r c IM. �o 0,6391NC04Q��P� Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Climate Advisory Committee Date: 2015 -09 -09 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Bi- monthly meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 7:00 PM Location: Conference Room TOWN CLV- ZK READING, MASS. t XT 21 A ct 01 Joan Boegel, member; Ron D'Addario, member and chair; Gina Snyder, associate member; Ray Porter, member; David Williams, associate member; David Zeek, member Members - Not Present: Laurie Ann Sylvia, member; Michele Benson, associate member Others Present: Daniel Ensminger, chair of Board of Selectman; Barry Berman, Selectman Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Joan Boegel Topics of Discussion: • Committee Chair Ron D'Addario welcomed invited guests from the Board of Selectmen and introduced the topic. Our committee had requested time on the agenda for a BoS meeting to discuss pending state legislation regarding natural gas leaks. Our intent was to ask that BoS pass a resolution supporting this legislation. The committee's request was denied. • Dan Ensminger, current Chair of BoS, explained that the BoS had an agenda item on their September 1 meeting regarding communication - including email and social media. They added discussion of taking positions on state legislation. The consensus (not a formal vote) reached at that meeting was that the BoS would not entertain a resolution because this has not been done before. This was not a decision on the merits of the gas leak issue. • Current policy with regard to legislation before the general court is that BoS may comment on issues that affect Reading only, but does not take a position on issues that may affect Reading as well as other communities. There is no precedent for doing so. • Mr. Ensminger further noted that the BoS is interested in the gas leak issue and wants to hear from Fire Chief about impact on Reading. Gina Snyder asked that he also talk to Tree Warden regarding the killing of street trees by gas leaks, referencing the planting of tree at the train station. • Barry Berman thanked the committee and David Zeek for bringing the gas leak issue to BoS attention. He stated that in his opinion (the minority) is that the Town should take a position on legislation that deals with Public Safety and affects Reading. He has experience working as an aide in state legislature and understands the legislative strategy of asking affected towns to weigh in on issues. He did his own due diligence to call our state senators and he sees Town relationship with state legislators as a partnership. Page 1 1 2013 -09 -03