HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-11-14 Cities for Climate Protection MinutesNovember 14, 2007 Reading Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection Program
Committee Notes for November 14, 2007 (Next Meeting - November 28th at RMLD)
Committee Meeting 7:00 PM, present were Michele Benson, Tracy Sopchak, Gina Snyder, Ron D'Addario, Joan
Boegel, Sophie Gellot and Stephanie Anderberg.
Welcome - Chair Gina Snyder opened the meeting, welcoming all present.
Minutes - Minutes from previous two meetings approved.
Green Sense Articles - This item was tabled until the next regular meeting (After meeting at RMLD).
Comments on Webpage - Committee members suggested that we might need a more obvious division
for the municipal actions. We might also want to highlight the community action over the municipal.
The new design has three circles at the top of the page, grouping three categories, and there was a
discussion over whether the three categories here should be consistent with the three categories on the Action
Plan. There had been a lot of back & forth on the subcommittee on this question as well. The issue is whether the
new (online) categories would be easier for the residents to understand, than the Action Plan categories, as the
Action Plan is a business document aimed at a different audience. There was also talk about whether to change
the categories on the Action Plan to match the suggested categories on the website. On the other hand, the Action
Plan categories more closely follow ICLEI's organization of climate action activities.
Other edits suggested included links for "back to top" within the page, and whether to keep the circle
designs linear, or bunched as in a 3-part Venn diagram.
The Action Plan subcommittee will continue discussion on the suggested edits at their next meeting.
Schools & recycling - Gina met with Pat Schettini regarding the "please don't idle" campaign and
mentioned that we could get pledge cards, etc, from Green Team, if we had a teacher contact at each participating
school. Gina added that she had called Mary DeLai and Mary will send DJ Cacciapouti (Energy & Facilities
Manager) to tomorrow's Recycling meeting
DPW has received a couple of calls from teachers asking if someone would come talk to the students about
recycling, but DPW does not have enough staff for this sort of outreach efforts. Sophie added that the recycling
subcommittee has grade-specific recycling info on their almost-ready website. The subcommittee might also be
able to help with school outreach requests.
Green Team program materials have been designed to work with MCAS guidelines so it's easier for teachers to fit
into the curriculum, but schools can only get the materials if a teacher will sign up with the Green Team.
Sophie shared information on a group that will do a drop-off event for free electronics recycling (a small fee for a
few items). We could do this as part of our Earth Day event.
Tree Lighting Event - We would need to contact the CofC to have a booth location assigned. Ron has
left a message and is waiting for a call back on this. Michele will also check with Priscilla (RMLD), who is
involved with the CofC. At the event, committee members will ask people to take the Transportation 1-2-3
Pledge. We will bring the globe keychains and the EPA Magic Schoolbus Books. The committee voted on &
approved having a presence at the tree lighting event.
RMLB Presentation - Michele spoke to Vinny, about how some energy items have been added to the
Plan which would involve additional RMLD staffmg needs. The energy conservation item looks promising, but
renewables look tougher as the consultant for RMLD has determined that the renewables "picture"for New
England doesn't look very promising. Conservation would likely be more effective than promoting renewables.
Vinny would like to hold off on presenting these two items until the consultants' report comes in at the end of the
year. RMLB would still like to hear from us on how we're doing on the plan in general, and the presentation
doesn't have to be specifically about energy actions. We could possibly give them excerpts from the Plan so they
can see what it looks like.
Our next meeting is on 11/28, which is also the date for the RMLB meeting (at 7:30), so we will meet at RMLD at
7, and work on our agenda items before & after we are called to present to the Board.
Holiday Plans - Ron will host a party on the 15th at 7pm. Bring a dessert or appetizer.