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Home My WebLink About2013-09-11 Climate Advisory Committee MinutesH ara p O, Town of Reading 4 �; .. Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Climate Advisory Committee Date: 2013 -09 -11 Building: Reading Public Library Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue Purpose: semimonthly meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 7:00 PM RECEIVED (OWN CLERK ADING. MASS. toll OCT I l P S 48 Location: Conference Room loan Boegel, David Williams, Gina Snyder, and Ron D'Addario Members - Not Present: Ray Porter, Michele Benson, and Laurie Ann Sylvia Others Present: Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Ronald D'Addario Topics of Discussion: Agenda Item: Review and approve minutes of recent meetings Discussion: The minutes of August 28th were discussed and unanimously approved. We are awaiting the submission of July 31st's meeting minutes from Ray for their approval. Agenda Item: Green Business Award Discussion: Joan related that she and Ron presented the Green Business award to Longwood Place, assisted living facility. Frank Petras, executive director, accepted the award for Longwood. Photos were taken. Ron sent Gina a GreenSense article written by him and Joan plus a photo shot of the event for publication in our local newspapers. Longwood also photographed the event and will publicize their award in their newsletter and possibly The Boston Globe newspaper. Ron will follow -up with Jordan's Furniture to determine If they would like to be considered for the award as will Joan with the 5 Senses Preschool Program. Ron mentioned that we should consider some of our residents for the Green Leadership award of which Peter Heckenbleikner was the first and only recipient. Action items: Person Responsible Dateline Contact Jordan's Furniture Ron 9/26/2013 Contact 5 Senses Preschool Program Joan 9/26/2013 Consider some residents for Green Leadership Gina (everyone) 9/26/2013 Page I 1 Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes Agenda item: School Climate Change Education — Jennifer Cambra Discussion: The committee decided to contact Jennifer Cambra to continue the discussion we had at the end of last school year. At that time, Jen Indicated that she would appreciate the committee's help In assisting her students In some kind of a sustalnability project. Gina said that she would reconnect with Jen. Gina needed to follow -up with the subject of Kill -A- Watt meters which our library has for loan. Action item: Person Responsible Dateline Contact Jen Cambra Gina 9/26/2013 Agenda Item: the town Webslte Discussion: Joan presented the committee with the work that she has done and is continuing to do to update the climate committee's section of the website. Joan has done much by inserting photos of our last three Green Business Award presentations, attaching a number of green sense articles (she will work to have one year's articles at any one time.), updating our member profiles, and attaching our agenda among other Insertions. Her work was very well received and appreciated by the committee after working several years without an active website. It was suggested that there should be a link to the Tree donation program and a link to the library Kill -a -watt kit. Joan noted that the information regarding Kill -a -watt kits on the library's website is Incomplete and difficult to find. Gina agreed to send Joan the documentation for Kill -a -watt kits. Joan asked for help with introducing frequently asked questions section. Action Items: Person responsible Dateline Develop FAQs for carbon and greenhouse gas Gina 9/26/203 footprint: Develop FAQs for Inquiries about the committee itself: Ron 9/26/2013 Send Joan material Gina 9/26/2013 regarding Kill -a -watt kits Review Library website for other links Dave 9/25/2013 Continue to update and add information to our Joan on -going section of the website: Agenda Item: School Anti - Idling Campaign Discussion: On August 21st, Joan exchanged a -mails with John Doherty, Reading superindent of schools. He said that we could place our request to parents on the school Ed- line. Gina suggested that Joan ask the superintendent for permisslon to speak directly with the school principals. The committee felt that he had too much on his plate to help us with the anti - idling policy however much he might agree with it. Joan related that two additional anti - Idling signs were placed on Birch Meadow Drive near the Birch Meadow elementary school. This was due to her previous call to public works and to Joe Huggins In School Facilities Dept. Joan Is seeking to have parents sign the anti - idling pledge on -line at the town website. She thinks that will be possible by designing a "webform" which will also allow us to capture Information and analyze statistics, but webform training has not yet been offered by Town Clerk. Ron suggested that we might Page 1 2 Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes offer a prize for the school with the highest percentage of parent pledges. Gina added that we could donate a tree. The committee felt that this would be a good Idea. Action Items Person Responsible Dateline Work on contacting the principals Also, work on webform pledge loan 9/26/2013 update Agenda Item: Green Apple Day Joan related that Martha Moore, teacher advisor to the RMHS Environmental Club would like to adopt the new traffic Island at Birch Meadow Drive and Oakland Street. Joan related that Martha Moore said that the students were considering the planting of edible flowers. Joan is working on connecting Ms. Moore with the Garden Club Adopt -an- Island program. Ron said that he would be willing to contact Calareso's and Home Depot to ask for donations to assist with planting within the new traffic island. Joan also related that Sarah Marchant, principal at Coolidge Middle School, wanted to use Green Apple Day within her extended homeroom periods. Joan sent her an array of projects from which she and /or the homeroom teachers could select a project. She has offered the committee's help in recruiting adult volunteers and soliciting donations from local businesses and from the Town (e.g., rain barrels from DPW). Action Items Joan will stay In contact with Martha Moore at RMHS and Sarah Marchant at Coolidge Middle School to see what we can do to assist the schools' students to participate in Green Apple Day. (Joan also mentioned Family Math and Science Night @ middle schools.) Person responsible: Joan 9/26/2013 Dateline: Update to committee: Agenda Item: September 18th meeting with Coleen O'Brien, General Manager, RMLD Discussion: the committee offered suggestions to Joan on questions we might ask Coleen during our visit with her 10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 18th. The basis for the discussion will be to Introduce our committee to Coleen and her to us. Our goal will be to establish the groundwork for us to work together to increase energy efficiency and sustainability in our community. Action item: Person responsible Dateline Joan will create an agenda for the meeting and give It to Jeanne Foti for Coleen prior to our meeting Joan Prior to 9/18/2013 Joan will also confirm the meeting length. Joan Prior to 9/18/2013 Page 1 3 m.o.ea