HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-08-21 Climate Advisory Committee MinutesTown of Reading
e� Meeting Minutes
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Climate Advisory Committee
Date: Aug. 212024 Time: 7 pm
Building: N/A
Address: N/A
Purpose: Bi -monthly meeting
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Attendees: Members - Present: Gena Pilyaysky, Mark Logsdon, Marc Ortins, Corrin
Wolf, Susan Bowes, Carolyn Johnson
Members - Not Present: Travis Estes
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By:
Travis Estes
Meeting Called To Order: 7:02 pm - Adjourned: 8:29
Topics of Discussion:
The meeting was held via a Zoom Conference Call
Welcome to Members and Guests
No one for public comment
Net Zero action plan:
• Corrin reported that there are no updates as the NZAP team hasn't met for awhile.
• Corrin and Travis offered to help them get better data for Reading.
Killam School Sustainability Working Group:
• Gena stated that the KSBC has picked option B for the building plan.
• HVAC option hasn't been determined yet because more studies are needed.
MBTA Communities Law:
• Mark L. reviewed Reading's current plans for complying with MBTA law.
o Lynchpin downtown business district discussed along with other options presented at last
MBTA meeting:
■ Eastern Gateway
• South Main Street
■ Transitional growth (go bigger around downtown area)
• At Mark Ls discussion table South Main St. seemed to be the most palatable
option for most.
in Planning office not keen on submitting paper compliance.
• What can CAC do? Not much other then advocate for greater setbacks if needed.
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• Discussed that increasing incrementally is more environmentally friendly then bulldozing and
building highnses.
Tree Replacement Policy:
• Gena reached out to the Conservation Committee, SB and CPDC and has an appointment with
the Town Manager.
• Looking into the cost of trees and creating more green space.
• Discussed potentially expanding the program from 1 for 1 replacement to incorporating other
environmentally friendly actions builders can take:
o Enforcement is/will be difficult, adding more options may complicate it more.
a Possibility - developers report how many trees are removed and how many
planted. Self-reported like taxes (developers can get audited by Tree Warden).
a Would only apply to new developments or large additions to homes.
Black Earth Composting:
• Black Earth has asked to have land in Reading but haven't been able to make it happen
o RMLD looking into new areas of land in town and BEC may be able to share land with
them. Gena and Susan talked to RMLD, nothing determined yet.
0 Space needed is 3 acres. Can do the first cook in a building, which would limit rodents,
blowing, etc. won't be a problem.
• Currently 482 residents are using BEC (has been here for 1.5 years). Around 7%.
• Marc O asked if it would be worth doing a survey.
• Someone from the local composting group could come to speak to CAC at some point.
• How will composting/waste be included in the Net Zero plan?
• Susan thinks getting a site closer to or in Reading most important and will be the most cost
effective.
• Susan will reach out to RMLD again.
Other topics discussed:
• Bi -weekly CAC meeting schedule will return starting in 2 weeks (next meeting on 914).
• Should CAC support another movie night at the library?
0 Tabling for now. Will discuss again in a few months
o Should tap into clubs and schools to advertise it as the last one wasn't well attended (will
put this particular item on agenda for future). Check in with Travis.
• Upcoming action/agenda dems:
o Social media: Corrin will be happy to help with more social media presence. Do we want
to get the FB page back up and running?
o Who started the initial group and how can we get access to k? Ray or David Z (Gena will
reach out to them).
• The question was asked, has Reading considered having a sustainability director? Yes, but
hasn't really gotten anywhere. Can revisit in the future. Before he left Fidel Maltez was working
with Andrew MacNichol on this.
• Reviewed and approved meeting minutes
0 5122 minutes unanimously approved
0 6126 minutes unanimously approved
• Talked about the potential to have a booth at Fall Faire and then determined it is too late to
submit an application.
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