HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-12 Climate Advisory Committee Minuteso� rq of
Town of Reading RECEIVED
^�t Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK
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Board `- committee - commission - council: 2023 MAR -8 PH 3: 10
Climate Advisory Committee
Date: 2021-05-12 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Bi -monthly meeting
Attendees: Members - Present:
David Zeek, Chair; Ray Porter, Secretary; Celeste Kracke, Member; Denise
McCarthy, Member; Jeff Everson; Member; Travis Estes, Associate Member;
Members - Not Present:
Peter MacGown, Associate Member
Others Present:
Gina Snyder, Member Emeritus
Greg Phipps, RMLD
Carlo Bacci, Reading Select Board
Genady Pilyaysky
Morgan Kruegler, Guest/Resident
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
Meeting minutes for 04/28/2021 has been accepted as amended.
Farmers' Market w/ Carlo Bacci of the Select Board
• Supportive of Farmers' Market in Downtown area
• Coordinate with Erin and Julie about Business Improvement District
• Success of a Farmers' Market depends on several factors
o Vendors (types and mix)
o Marketing and Promotion
o Parking
Potential schedule for developing a Farmers' Market
o This year - scope for market (speak to vendors), BOH Restrictions
o Next year - start
• Coordinate with Lisa Eagan of Reading/No. Reading Chamber
RCAC and Reading Cares Bike Event
• Over 60 bikes donated, 35 reclaimed, about 25 left.
• Reading Cares to redistribute the left over bikes
• Spotlight article to come out in Reading Chronicle.
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Town or Reading - Meeting Minutes
EV Charging Stations / Electrification with Greg Phipps of RMLD
• RMLD has filed grant submissions - Questions/Responses include
o Residential rebate
o Local travel
o Business use case
• Focus on impacts from Climate Bill
• EV webinar success
o EV specific rate
o Prority: acceptance of personal EV and charger
o EV Chargers in Commercial / Public space 2nd priority
• Demand/ Response Management
o Shave the peak
o Giving the consumer control over electrical usage - valuable
o Give control / manage / measure response
• Meter data Management network
o Monitor usage
o Multiple costs/rates
o Balance diurnal load
• Solar voltaic panel rates
o Looking at options over the current rate
o Value in non -carbon source
o Value in generating power in-grid/network
• Rate Study Draft - end of July.
Community Garden Grant - Celeste and Cathy leek
• Karen asked regarding siting authority
o Accessibility - ADA compliant
o Vision for use
• Stakeholders - DPW, Schools, Food Pantry
Grant amount of $10,000 passed House budget, waiting for Senate vote.
• Most likely schedule
o Fall 2021 - Prepare
o Winter 2021/2022 - Promotion
o Spring 2022
• Urban and Community formats / models
• Water access - irrigation systems, rain barrels
• Raised bed, DIY or pre -constructed.
Environmental Metrics for Sustainable Development
• Sustainable PowerPoint presentation
• Jeff reviewing article, Ray not done review
• GHG Inventory update for Reading
• Global protocol for community based emissions
• Cities responsible for 70% of emissions
Review sustainability Items - need to define measures
• Data Point - EV car users - current/ future.
Student Interns from HS Environmental Club
Public Service Message (5 min segments)
• Data Collection (Environmental Metrics)
• Survey for Farmers' Market
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Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes
Road Diet Update
• Proposed to pave northside of Main Street
• Southside to be paved in August
• Metrics showed no significant change - speed and number of cars
• Data on property damage / collisions not available
• Area near South Street / Summer Street
• Load now 80% of 2019.
committee Membership
• Draft statement of committee roles
• Openings - 1 full member, 1 associate member
• Celeste edited statement posted to Facebook with link to Reading Volunteer page
Postings
• DOER Phase II RPS Change - say no to Woody Biomass Plants
• Phase II gas leaks
0 18% leaks were large (2000 sf area w/ measureable gas)
0 4 Grade 1 leaks
o Number of trees with methane in roots along street
Next meeting 5/26/2021 at 7:00 pm