HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-12-08 Climate Advisory Committee Minutes*F.gTown of Reading 'RECEfVED
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 2023 MAR -8 PH 3:09
Climate Advisory Committee
Date: 2021-12-08 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Bi -monthly meeting
Attendees: Members - Present:
David Zeek, Chair; Ray Porter, Secretary; Celeste Kracke, Member; Jeff
Everson, Member; Genady Pilyaysky, Member; Walt Talbot, Associate
Member; Travis Estes, Associate Member;
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Usha , North Reading Recycling Committee
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Ray Porter
Topics of Discussion:
Meeting was held via a Zoom Conference Call
Welcome to Members and Guests
Review minutes, vote on acceptance
Discussion with Usha from North Reading Recycling Committee
• Working to a "pay as you throw" waste system in North Reading
• Talking with neighboring towns to hear what others are doing
• Also addressing other climate related issues; EV chargers, heat pumps, etc
• Dave shared the activities the RCAC has been involved in
• Discussed the issue of RMLD fees to Green Community by town
• Provides access to grant funding
Census Survey Approved by Select Board
• Dave sent survey form to Laura Gemme
• Need to find out how best to tabulate the results
• Genady can create a program to tabulate the results if the forms can be scanned
in the same direction
Support for Sustainability Director
• Dave spoke to Karen about the position
• Travis will meet with MAPC (Brooks and Megan) to discuss Director positions in
other towns.
• Positions seem to be more early career than senior staff
• Salary expectations are in the $65 to 70K
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Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes
• Primary skills are program management and communication skills
Need to coordinate with "new" Town Manager about placement of Sustainability
Director in Town government.
Community Garden Update
• Meetings with DPW
• Trying to get on ConCom agenda in January for Mattera
• 12 to 14 plots along the 3 terraces
• Pollinator garden is an initial objective
• Planned to meeting with Select Board (Karen) to gain support for funding
• Looking to put stop light access on Rt 28
• Looking to get a van and bike access to support transportation to site
• Support for increased usage of Matters site
• Tight timeline for clearing and prepping of land for Spring growing season
• Clearer understanding of permit approvals for work to be performed
• Town is prefers the establishment of a more formal "committee" or "club" rather
than a entity under town departments
RMLD Rate Structure
• Planning to invite Greg Phipps in early January
• New rate structure, dividing the day into 8 hour segments
• Meeting would be a Zoom meeting
Strategy for Evaluating Town Building Energy Improvements
• Looking for opportunities at the Killam and Birch Meadow schools
• Roof Improvements planned at Parker, Coolidge and Eaton schools
• Incentives are increasing for electrification options
Next meeting 12/22/2021 at 7:00 pm
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