HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-07-17 Climate Advisory Committee MinutesTown of Reading
z Meeting Minutes
_1
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Climate Advisory Committee
Date: 07 17 2024 Time: 7 pm
Building: N/A
Address: N/A
Purpose: Bi -monthly meeting
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Attendees: Members - Present: Corrin Wolf; Genady Pilyaysky; Travis Estes;
Mark Logsdon; Susan Bowe; Mark Logsdon; Marc Ortins
Members - Not Present:
Others Present: Ray Porter
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By:
Travis Estes
Meeting Called To Order: 7:04 pm - Adjourned: 8:39 pm
Topics of Discussion:
1) Call to Order
2) Public Comment
3) Welcome New Members (Introductions)
4) Discuss and Vote on Reorganize (Chair & Vice Chair Positions)
5) Updates on Current Engagement and Initiatives
5a) Net Zero Action Plan (Travis Estes and Corrin Wolf)
Sb) Killam School Sustainability Working Group (Gena Pilyaysky and
Carolyn Johnson)
Sc) MBTA Communities Process (Gena Pilyaysky and Carolyn Johnson)
5d) Trees and Green Space Preservations (Gena Pilyaysky)
6) Discuss and assign action items
7) Future Agenda Items and Action Items
8) Review and Approve Minutes
9) Adjournment
Welcome to Members and Guests
Reorganization Vote
• Gena was nominated for chair
o Roll call vote -unanimous -aye
Page I 1
_r
Town of Reading
- r Meeting Minutes
• Travis was self -nominated for vice -chair
o Roll call vote - unanimous- aye
Net Zero MPCA - Travis/Corrin
• No new updates
Killam sustainability initiative - Genady
Two meetings since last RCAC meeting
o Working group focused on HVAC
■ Equipment considered:
• Geothermal
• Air Source Heat Pump
• VRF
• Gas boiler
■ Electric options were lower upfront cost after incentives and lifetime
operating cost
■ Ray - RMLD is very interested in having as much PV generation on
site as possible
o Site planning and design
MBTA Communities Process -Genady
• No new updates
• The town is hosting education and listening meetings
o Next one is July 3l
Trees and Green Space Preservations - Genady
• Review of presentation for bylaw discussion
• Questions:
o How do we incentivize not cutting down existing trees?
■ After soil compression, new trees struggle to establish and thrive.
o How will this be effectively enforced?
o How much land "requires" clear -cutting for development?
o Is tree diameter the right metric to determine replacement requirements?
o Can the replacement trees be mandated by providing a list of eligible trees?
o How do we ensure the proper planting of trees?
o Should the committee consider hosting an outreach event to educate folks about
tree selection and maintenance?
o Power lines and other utilities should be considered for consideration in the
process.
• Committee vote to grant Genady permission to update the presentation and engage with
other Reading committees to refine the concept to ultimately develop a bylaw:
o Would seek to gather feedback and input by mid-September for submission as
an article for fall 2024 Town Meeting
■ Roll call vote:
• Unanimous - aye
Page 12
A
,. Town of Reading
>r Meeting Minutes
Review and Approve Minutes
• Motion to table review of previous meeting notes
o Roll call vote:
■ Unanimous -aye
Future Agenda Items and Action Items
• Items can be sent to Genady in advance of meetings
• Corrin - online/social meeting posts
o Town Manager newsletter
• RMLD land purchase
o Solarfarms
o Composting
Motion to Adjourn
o Roll call vote:
■ Unanimous - aye
Page 1 3 m<