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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-08-12 Climate Advisory Committee MinutesOFR c ��, rte- r•� � ", � ^ , 'S39`1NCO400pP� Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Climate Advisory Committee Date: 2015 -08 -12 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Bi- monthly meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 7:00 PM Location: Conference Room To RF N 1CL [Rx M�J S S 21 q 8,4 ©F Joan Boegel, member; Laurie Ann Sylvia, member; David Williams, member; Ron D'Addario, member and chair; Gina Snyder, associate member; Ray Porter, member Members - Not Present: Michele Benson, associate member Others Present: David Zeek Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Joan Boegel Topics of Discussion: • Recognition of Past Chair, David Williams. The Climate Advisory Committee presented past chair, David Williams, with a certificate of appreciation for his service, signed by all committee members and by our Town Manager and RMLD General Manager. • Accomplishments from 2014 -2015 o Ron D'Addario reviewed the committee's accomplishments from the past year, including a successful Earth Day event, continuation of weekly Green Sense column (thanks to Gina Snyder), presentations to students at RMHS, library book reviews, Adopt an Island, the business recycle bin, plan for solar lighting in library parking lot, participation in Community Shared Solar initiative, and approval by the Board of Selectmen to continue for two years. • Projects for 2015 -2016 o Ray Porter led a discussion of proposed projects that the committee will focus on during the next year. • Community Shared Solar. Subcommittee of Gina, Mike Scola and Joan Boegel will continue to meet with Tom 011ila (RMLD) and to support bringing CSS to Reading. Joan and Gina noted that there is no new progress to report on this program. • Helping Senior Citizens with Energy Audits and Financing of Home Energy Efficiency Upgrades. Council on Aging will meet again in September. Ron will work with Gina. • Food Waste. The Massachusetts food waste disposal ban, affecting businesses that generate more than 1 ton per week of food waste, went into effect last year. There is a gap between demand and resources for food waste management options, i.e., composting, pig farms and anaerobic digestion facilities. Ray suggested that the committee could find out what local businesses, such as the supermarkets in Reading, are Page 1 1 Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes doing with their food waste and share that information with the business community. ■ Connect with the Chamber of Commerce and re- energize the Green Business Award. o Outreach efforts will continue with • Library presentations • Green Sense • Earth Day, Friends & Family Day Gas Leak Legislation • David Zeek reported on his efforts to secure Town of Reading support for two laws regarding gas leaks that are pending in the state house. One bill would prohibit the gas company from charging customers for leaked gas. The other would require the gas company to check for and repair leaks whenever a road is opened up. State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representative Jim Dwyer both support these bills. • There are 114 identified gas leaks in Reading. • David Zeek met with Selectman Barry Berman to discuss the issue and ask that the Board of Selectmen pass a resolution in support of these bills. Mr. Berman promised to bring this to BoS and Town Manager. • David Z. also spoke with Fire Chief Burns who told him that the Fire Dept received 70 calls about gas leaks last year and 51 so far this year. This type of call makes up 5% of the department's emergency calls. • A Green Sense article and other publicity about the gas leak issue would be helpful. We could encourage individuals to tell their selectmen to support the bills. Timing for the article should be August 21 before the next BoS meeting in early September. • David Z. asked whether the committee has a position on the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline which would come across the Ipswich River in North Reading. The committee has not yet discussed this. David and Gina will email the committee members links to resources on this issue. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Page 1 2 2013 -09 -03