HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-06-28 Cities for Climate Protection MinutesJune 28, 2006 Reading Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection Program
Committee Notes for June 28, 2006
Present were Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, Ron Daddario, Gina Snyder, Dan Blodgett, Emily
Kumpel, and Tracy Sopchak.
The minutes for June 14 were accepted unanimously.
Michele and Emily provided a summary of the progress of the data gathering for the CCP software.
They have made contact with some town departments but it is slow going to get useful information. The
schools have a key role because they are in charge of all town facilities. Michele has spoken with the
secretary to the Maintenance Facilities Manager, Joe Huggins, and June 20°i sent a letter asking for the data
on energy use for 2000. They have not responded to an offer to have Emily go to the department to help
gather the data. Michele will follow up on this again. KeySpan is still developing a query, but getting data
from them shouldn't be a problem, it's just a matter of waiting for the information. The DPW was not able
to provide much information except total tons of waste. Michele will try to contact Ted McIntyre in person
and we may try to contact the Town's waste contractor and get the numbers from the other direction,
particularly recycling numbers. No information was provided on the town fleet, but this might be under Joe
Huggins, the structure isn't entirely clear. The committee discussed developing a target year and percentage
as soon as possible to bring to the selectmen. The year 2012 was discussed along with the concept of 10 or
15 % reduction from 2000 levels.
We noted that we will need to collect this data every year. And we need to develop a relation with
the schools because they have such a big effect on town energy use, car traffic and idling at drop off and
pick up as well as the interest of Superintendent Pat Schettini expressed at an earlier RMLD Board meeting.
The school department also has much of the town data.
Reading Municipal Light was given the go-ahead to purchase Green Power RECs at the Board
meeting on July 21. RECs are Renewable Energy Certificates. This program will probably be running by
the fall and the committee plans to assist RMLD in advertising. RECs are certificates for green power, but
don't actually buy green power because there isn't enough. The program is heavily regulated by the state,
and should result in development of more green power with the extra money for it demonstrating interest
and willingness on the part of the public to pay.
Park Place, the Lifestyle Mall proponents pulled out of the eet with the committee. The
committee decided to request that they develop to LEED standard . an indi ted that there is an REI at the
Hingha Mall and he will ask the manager there for detai energy costs, and whether the mall
meets ED design andards in any way, if she might know.
e committee was asked by the Board of Selectmen to develop a poster display on how the Town
is doing on the pledge after our highly successful pledge amounts on Reading Town Day, June 17. Tracy
will work with Kim Honetschlager to develop a poster as recommended by Camille Anthony and Ron will
talk to the library about doing a display there too.
Ron has signed up to attend the July 18 session for the MADEP grants for Solid Waste and CCP
cities. He will ask whether we are eligible for only a single $25,000 or for both solid waste and energy
conservation, so that we might develop proposals for two grants of up to $25,000. Peter is still interested in
a grant for trees on South Main Street. The committee would assist getting property owner's permission for
the Trees in cases where they would be on private property. Peter reported a couple property owners were
enthused by the idea.
Gina will take a first cut at a plan that would be necessary to apply for a CCP grant. Also, the
possibility for grants from REI was discussed. The understanding is that REI provides grants for projects
that have a nexus with their business, such as bike paths or canoe launch siting.
The Walkable Communities outreach session, walk and brainstorm session was also at Town Hall
earlier in the day. Ron, Gina and Dan attended. The outcome was. that Dan Blodgett's father was nominated
to develop an informal committee to address the many issues that came up. The committee asked Dan to let
his father know that we're available to help with projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The committee decided that we do not have hand outs and are not ready to do any outreach at the
July 3 North Reading Ipswich River Park event over the holiday. We felt we'd be better off waiting until
next year when we would be more prepared and have more experience with the CCP program.
August 50' for cookout at Ron's.
Next meeting July 12