HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-24 Climate Advisory Committee Minutes . Town of Reading
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TOWN CLERK
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Climate Advisory Committee
2019 JUL — I PM 12: 08
Date: 2018-01-24 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Lower Level Conference Roam
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Bi-monthly meeting
Attendees: Members - Present:
David Zeek, chair; Laurie Ann Sylvia, member; Jeff Everson, associate
member; Celeste Kracke, member; Gina Snyder, associate member
Members - Not Present:
Gretchen Latowsky, member
Ray Porter, secretary
Others Present:
Butch Conary, Guest
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Gina Snyder
Topics of Discussion:
Welcome to Members and Guests
Review minutes, vote on acceptance
none
Ongoing Business:
Plastic bag bylaw follow up:
Possibly look to hand out bags at earth day fair or have a `craft' table for creating the no-
sew bags from a t-shirt that attendees bring
Earth Day
• David got a list of electric and hybrid car dealerships from last year from Ron
- • Jeff will contact automotive reps. Ron had taken care of all the contact, including
a letter that was sent. Jeff will wait until we have a flyer(noted,may have to visit
some of the dealerships). No unattended vehicles, need sales rep with a car if they
are willing to exhibit.
• Jeff looked into getting drones to monitor the environment; Top Flight in Malden,
http://www.tflighttech.com/. There's another place in Woburn.
• Celeste worked on a flyer, several drafts were reviewed, and one was chosen with
a few modifications. Celeste and Laurie Anne will finalize with letter.
• Laurie Anne will send finalized letter to all committee when it's ready.
• Drive Green is a program, through Mass Energy Consumers Alliance (nonprofit
connecting consumers with companies offering green products, comparison
programs). The interest here is that they vet auto dealers that give discounts for
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Town of Reading -Meeting Minutes
EV's and plug-ins. If you sign up with drive green and which cars you me
interested in and they'll schedule a test drive.They also work with energy sage,
helping consumers get competitive bids from solar companies. Celeste will look
into contact information and coordinate with David.
• Mentioning solar, John Rogers of North Reading is interested to attend a meeting
to talk about RMLD's residential solar policy. February 7'should work, Gina
and David to set up.
• Noting the problems written up in the newspaper wrt contamination in the
recycling, particularly plastic bags, would we want to have a display, and/or
would JRM—recycling like to come?
• Outreach-Newspapers, facebook and timing will be discussed later.
• WRT cars being there,what about bicycles and human-power such as roller
blades? Stoneham, Medford, Burlington bike shops as well as REI. Celeste will
look into and assess level of interest.
• Promote bike swap again, check in with Betsy. Bike swap has specific paperwork
that Laurie Anne confirms usually around March.
• Community Supported Agriculture programs in the area? Celeste knows at least
one that delivers to Reading, she can check with them and look into others in the
area if they'd like to come to Earth Day Fair.
• Question on tree warden attending, but the position is currently open here in
Reading. Many nearby towns have groups working to protect trees from gas leaks.
Reading has had tree deaths caused by gas leaking,particularly one of the heritage
elms at the train station. Groups focusing particularly on legacy trees.
Other topics:
Food waste pick up and return of compost by a company called Black Earth
Compost, info given to Jeff. They are trying to establish a low-cost residential
compost pick up in Reading. They have contracts with Beverly, Salem,Newburyport
and Manchester. Is RCAC interested in supporting?Justin Sandler could be invited
to attend and describe the program. Maybe the meeting after Feb. 7".
The meeting adjourned at 8:35 pm
Neat meeting 2-7-2018 at 7:00 pm
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