HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-10-08 Climate Advisory Committee Minuteso�y urxe'o
Town of Reading
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Meeting Minutes RECEIVED
(OWN CLERK
�-ADING. MASS.
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
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Climate Advisory Committee I014 NOV 12 A MD
Date: 2014 -10 -08 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Bi- monthly meeting
Attendees: Members - Present:
Joan Boegel, member; David Williams, Chair and member; Ron D'Addario,
member; Ray Porter, member; Laurie Ann Sylvia, member, Gina Snyder,
associate member
Members - Not Present:
Michele Benson, associate member
Others Present:
Michael Scola
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Joan Boegel
Topics of Discussion:
Review and approve minutes of recent meeting. The committee voted to approve
minutes of the 9/10/2014 meeting as written by Gina Snyder.
Reflections on September 23r° presentation to Board of Selectman. Chair David
Williams presented and thought that it went well. He did not expect long discussion.
Ron was disappointed by perceived lack of Interest by selectmen. Subsequent to the
meeting he emailed Town Manager Bob LeLacheur who assured him that the
presentation was well received and that lack of questions meant the presentation
was clear. Ron noted that the Chair of the Board of Selectmen, John Arena, had one
question after the presentation. His question was about how we can get the word
out and he suggested that the committee put together an emergency preparedness
kit and sell them to Reading residents. Ron suggested that we consider that idea
and he proposed that another way to get our message out would be to do a two
minute report at the next Town Meeting.
Emergency Preparedness Kit. The committee discussed the pros and cons of acting
on John Arena's suggestion. Laurie Ann had information about kits that are available
from Home Depot, Staples and REI. The least expensive kits cost about $40 but do
not include all the Items recommended by FEMA and other agencies. Some
committee members questioned the appropriateness of a town committee selling
items to the public. One idea was to partner with high school students to provide
kits for them to sell as a fundraiser. Ron volunteered to contact the Town Manager
for his input on this issue.
Town Meeting presentation. Ron, Gina and David will prepare a brief presentation (2
slides) about the availability of the committee's Climate Change Adaptation Report to
be presented at next Town Meeting if approved by Town Manager.
e Reading Library Building Project. Michael Scola is interested in getting a solar
demonstration project at the Reading Memorial Library. He shared a drawing of a
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Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes
proposed outdoor solar - powered lighting for the library parking lot and sidewalks
that was done for him by Photometrics LLC. Each lighting pole costs approximately
$4700 and there would be potentially 19 poles on the property. Mike spoke with a
representative at the Northeast Regional Vocational School who would like to involve
students in the project. Ray Porter noted that this could be a win -win for the Town.
He made a motion that the Committee should pursue installation of solar outdoor
lighting fixtures at the library as a demonstration of off -grid power involving students
in the design and Installation. The Committee voted in favor of this idea. loan will
contact the chair of the Reading Public Library Building Committee to request a
meeting with the project electrical contractor. Laurie Ann will take this idea to RMLD
Engineering Dept. Maybe there is an opportunity for a grant. She will also look at
where the lights are on the street rather than on library parking lot and walkway.
• LED Street Lighting pilot project. Laurie Ann reported that RMLD is replacing SOW
high pressure sodium lamps with 25 W LEDs. Woburn already has LED street lights
and she has observed that they are much brighter and easier on the eyes. RMLD
has installed LED street lights in 2 locations of the town as part of their pilot
program. Likewise; North Reading, Lynnfield and Wilmington have LED pilot lights
installed.
RMHS Environmental Club - Envirothon community research and action. Martha
Moore, RMHS Biology teacher, leads an Environmental Club. They have participated
in the MA Envirothon competition for several years. The 2015 current issue is
Climate Crisis - Taking Action in Massachusetts Communities. Ms. Moore has asked
for the Climate Committee to meet with her Environmental Club so that they can
learn about what is being done In Reading to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
This is a good opportunity for the committee. The club may want to do a service
project related to climate change in Reading. For example, they might get involved
In promoting emergency preparedness in the community. Ron will contact Martha
Moore and offer to do a presentation for the Environmental Club.
• Cardboard recycling for businesses. Ron will follow up with
Town Manager regarding contact with CVS for space in the parking lot.
• Adopt an Island. David has learned that there are three islands available for
adoption. He would like the committee to consider adopting one of these Islands.
He has been trying unsuccessfully to connect with the Garden Club for more details.
loan reported that she also had some difficulty connecting with the Garden Club to
facilitate the RMHS Environmental Club adopt -an- island project last year. She will
look at her old emalls and find the right contact person /email address for David.
• Ron reported that he participated in the People's Climate March in New York City last
month.
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