HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-07-23 Climate Advisory Committee Minutes0Ot4 4�OF. Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes 10WN CLERK
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council: I'r 03
Climate Advisory Committee 1014 SEP 11 A
Date: 2014 -07 -23 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Lower Level Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: BI- monthly meeting
Attendees: Members - Present:
loan Boegel, member; David Williams, Chair and member; Michele Benson,
associate; Ron D'Addario, member; Ray Porter, member; Laurie Ann Sylvia,
member
Members - Not Present:
Gina Snyder, associate
Others Present:
Michael Scola
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: loan Boegel
Topics of Discussion:
Review and approve minutes of recent meeting. The committee voted to approve
minutes of the 7/09/2014 meeting as written by Michele Benson with revision by
Laurie Ann Sylvia.
Reading Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. Ray Porter said that the recent workshop was
well done, but the plan is on hold. There is nothing for the Committee to do now.
Letter to Northern Bank - recycle bin. Ron D'Addario had e- mailed a revised draft
letter to the Committee for review. Michele Benson suggested that we might be
more successful by speaking directly with staff at the bank, rather than sending a
letter to the President, who was not responsive in the past. Michele is now serving
on the Board for Sanborn Place and has become acquainted with one of the Northern
Bank managers who is also involved with Sanborn Place. Michele's impression is that
the bank is community- oriented. Michele will use her contact to determine who to
approach at the bank, then Ron and Michele will call and request a meeting with that
person at the bank. Meanwhile, Ron will contact JRM regarding the possibility of a
paper recycling bin for the Main Street / M.F. Charles building businesses.
Review Library plans for renewable energy possibilities. loan Boegel had received an
email response to her inquiry from the Chair of the Library Building Committee. He
stated that sustainability has been a "core driver" of the library project but
compromises have to be made due to tight budget. He sent link to library floor plans
and external architectural renderings but could not share more detailed plans due to
sensitivity around bidding process. Design and bid documents are to be finalized in
July. He welcomes our input and would be happy to set up meeting for us. In a
later email he suggested that more detailed plans may be available from CPDC. Mike
Scola had several specific comments and questions regarding the library. loan will
contact CPDC to request the library Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing plans. Also,
loan will contact the Chair of the Library Building Committee again, and accept his
offer to meet with us.
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Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes
Electric Vehicle Charging Station. Committee discussed the possibility of EV charging
station at library. It may not be the first location, but would make sense to plan for
it now. Tirzah Shakespeare at RMLD is working on grant and plans for EV charging
station. David, Michele and Laurie Ann met with her on Monday, July 21. The
charging station must be at company with at least 15 full time employees. Analog
Devices In Wilmington is already committed. Committee discussed various locations
for EV charging stations in Reading. No action for us at this time.
Follow -up for selectmen on Climate Adaptation Plan. David has arranged for 15
minutes at Board of Selectmen's meeting - September 23 - to discuss our Reading
Climate Adaptation Plan. Ron reported that he sent the police chief and fire chief
copies of the plan and thanked them for their work and asked them to attend on
September 23. Ron will start on PowerPoint presentation and will work on content
with co- authors of the plan, Joan and David. Michele and Laurie Ann volunteered to
help with final formatting of PowerPoint. Laurie Ann noted that Reading Chronicle is
running a 4 -part series on the Reading Climate Adaptation Plan.
Other business. Laurie Ann reported that Astrum Solar approached RMLD Energy
Services regarding a Solarize Reading program. They have done this in Concord,
which also has a municipal light department. They would need a group like ours to
help. The Committee discussed and agreed to Invite Astrum Solar to our August 27
meeting if Laurie Ann gets positive feedback from Concord Muni Light Dept.
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