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Home My Public Portal About20230206 - Sustainable Green Committee - Meeting MinutesTOWN OF HOPKINTON SUSTAINABLE GREEN COMMITTEE Monday February 6,2023 at 6:00 PM Library -13 Main St.-Lower Level Google Meet joining info Video call link:https://meet.google.com/chz-ffxe-dtb Or dial:(US)+1 574-328-1059 PIN:936 081 857# More phone numbers:https://tel.meet/chz-ffxe-dtb?pin=7408896311705 MINUTES _________________________________________________________________________ Attendees:Amy Groves (remote),Brendan McGowan,Christine Coffman,Don Sutherland (remote),Geoff Rowland,Kathy Yang,Ken Parker,Linda Chuss,Nicole Simpson,Peggy Barton (remote),Priya Vasudevan (remote) Late:Alice Potopav Absent:Paul Gallagher,Mary Beth Lavoie Guest and Liaisons:Joe Hall,Diane Hayward,Kristi Skidgell,Michael Miller,Carol Esler, Amanda Fargiano (School Committee) Note:Items in [brackets]were followup links etc.added after the meeting 1.General business a.Membership updates i.Carol is interested in joining SGC;we have one open position to replace Renee ii.10 of 15 members have terms ending in June -members continue after June if they want to until their renewed term has taken effect or until a new member joins.Expect an email from town hall about reapplying,and redo the legal items (e.g.conflict of interest and open meeting law) b.Approved minutes from the previous meeting -January 2023 meeting minutes c.We had an issue getting the mic and speaker working and issues with remote people being able to hear everyone Next meeting,we’ll move the TV to the center of the room in hopes it picks up sound from around the table better. 2.Updates from committee liaisons a.Select Board -Mary Jo LaFreniere -none b.School Committee -Amanda Fargiano said the grade configuration for 2,3,and 4 was decided upon for the new building.Location is to be determined.Hopkins will get an addition and it will become 5 and 6.Budget for planning will be requested at town meeting -if it passes,SGC can push for sustainable implementation at that point. c.ESBC-2 -Elmwood replacement HVAC options:Nicole watched the video about this. i.See the slides. ii.There are 4 options;3 are all electric (ground source heat pump,air source heat pump,hybrid of the 2,and the 4th is natural gas). iii.Wells needed for geothermal increase the initial cost of the system;less electricity from building solar is needed,though,because ground source heating would use less energy/cost less than other options on an annual basis. iv.The Mass Save and IRA federal incentives really help defray costs, though the funds may need to be there up front. v.From a 30-year perspective,the ground source option is much lower and the hybrid is the next lowest. vi.The hybrid option reduces the physical space for wells,which allows for more flexibility in choosing a site and may represent a good compromise. vii.The decision will be made in the summer in preparation for total project cost. d.Parks and Rec -Laura Hanson -none 3.OML and Conflict of Interest a.The OML guidance will be provided at the next meeting.[Amy created OML guidelines after the meeting] i.A question from Linda:If a subcommittee has,e.g.4 members,and only 2 show up for the meeting,can you hold the meeting (a quorum isn’t present)?Answered by Geoff and Amy -you cannot hold the meeting. The two people can exchange information but cannot make decisions without a quorum. b.Conflict of Interest renewal -we each need to acknowledge it annually,and have an assessment every 2 years:expect paperless notification from town per Conor Degan. 4.Workgroup Logistics a.There is now a workgroups folder where all the subcommittee info should be stored b.Subcommittee membership -we reviewed the current assignments and needs: i.Linda encouraged new members to go onto committees with fewer than 4 people. ii.Don will chair the Environment subcommittee. iii.Buildings will work out its chair. iv.Green Energy may be back burnered except for municipal aggregation and beefing up solar information,which there is a strong appetite for, unless/until we have more/new members on it. c.The template for an agenda/meeting was reviewed.[After the meeting,separate templates for an agenda and minutes were added,to be used if preferred.]The meeting posting process was reviewed. i.[It was recommended that the same URL be used for each subcommittee virtual meeting,however,not all platforms support this d.Outreach process and subcommittees -Linda described that the subcommittee creates draft content and taps the Outreach subcommittee to implements/help implement it i.Outreach can have a form to help drive it:what do you want on the website,on social media,in the paper,handouts,signs,events etc.[Linda created the outreach request list] ii.An outreach subcommittee member can come to another subcommittee or vice-versa to work together.If more than just one member attends,and it represents a quorum,the meeting must be announced as being for both subcommittees. iii.The public is invited to attend workgroup meetings they are interested in. If other SGC members want to go as a resident to just listen and not work on the topics,then they don’t have to worry about their own subcommittee quorum. 5.Workgroup Progress a.Climate Action Plan i.Presentation to Select Board and the Net Zero Resolution -feedback from the select board meeting was reviewed.The timing and sponsorship were the key points.It is a public document we can point to,though it is subject to minor changes.We’ve asked the select board will cosponsor it [Note that in the list of articles the select board is reviewing,the select board IS listed as the sponsor -see the packet for the select board meeting on 2/14/22 in the Events calendar on hopkintonma.gov] 1.Ken suggested that the paragraphs in the resolution be numbered for easier reference ii.Municipal Aggregation Plan feedback -based on limited discussion with the select board,SGC needs to request a date to come back to the select board to get next steps going. b.Buildings i.Planning Board articles for Town Meeting (and Transportation subcommittee) 1.Draft EV parking warrant article -Nicole summarized that for any new or expanding commercial and municipal parking lots of 10 or more spaces (like ESBCII),10%or more of spots need to have L2+EV chargers or 20%need to be L2+EV charger ready.This will be voted on at town meeting. 2.Draft rooftop solar exemption warrant article (and Green Energy subcommitte)-Geoff summarized that a site review is not needed for installing solar panels on roofs making the installation easier to help increase adoption 3.SGC will cosponsor these if the Planning Board wants our support -we voted on that and it was unanimously accepted.Someone from Buildings will follow up with the Planning Board. ii.Municipal opt-in stretch code -Geoff summarized this.It’s the state’s code that Hopkinton has opted into and for which there was an update in January,so the town will be following that.There is a new more expansive opt-in code that is designed to help meet 2050 emissions goals by encouraging non-fossil fuel use.Next step is that John Gelsuch,our town planner,wants SGC to ask town building inspectors to review it to see if it’s feasible from an inspection perspective.If endorsed,the town will put the warrant forward at a special town meeting in the fall.Some notes: 1.Final code language is available 2.There may be some grants available c.Zero Waste i.Composting updates 1.Alice shared they are working on habit building in the cafeteria, and need more volunteers for all 5 days.In a week,they collect about a half-full bin,about the size of a town recycling bin.It is growing gradually.They will talk to the staff for prep work to be composted.It’s not clear what will happen next year -it may be a matter of funding.Alice may want another SGC member to mentor the student team.The budget was $5K for the year for once a week pickup and replacing liners. 2.Town composting is under investigation -Christine may talk with Westborough about recent changes there ii.The recycling event has been set up for Sat.June 17th,10am to 2pm at Marathon School.It will be the usual collection,maybe adding a few more things like batteries etc.It will be more costly ($25 instead of $15). Holliston will be there too.We will need volunteers. iii.Nicole asked about a green up day. 1.Linda wonders if it is within our scope.We could provide information and guidance to community groups who want to do it, based on our experience.In some other towns (Framingham, Westborough),there are separate organizations and it’s not part of Sustainability. a.Christine said there is a lot of information about the last one we did that could be compiled into guidance for that purpose 2.Peggy says it’s a big undertaking and favors a separate group doing it. 3.Joe Hall suggests we encourage the DPW to be the organizers and drivers.Kathy concurs -our outreach group can help encourage/promote the DPW’s efforts. 4.Maybe the Environmental Club would want it 5.Student Council might want it 6.Goals for 2023 a.Goals for each workgroup should be ready to review at the next SGC meeting i.Each workgroup should review the goals in their area that are called out in the CAP and those in the implementation plan (these are long term goals so don’t be overwhelmed),and define the specific actions/results to commit to in that area for the next 3 to 12 months. ii.Suggest each workgroup meets once a month to make progress,and meet more often if needed or desired iii.We’ll talk about tracking progress against goals at the next meeting. iv.Reference goals for 2022 if needed too - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z5AokxcCkF7NGV2fKqWTdp7Jrd6 FR0GHlkBZr8JnfRE/edit?pli=1#heading=h.v6up0iuolbl 7.Events a.Possible Events i.Family Fling -Saturday,March 25th -Priya will let us know more about it but the timing may make it a challenge -the Outreach group will address it ii.Earth Day -Saturday,April 22nd -we will not hold an event,just messaging/outreach iii.CAP/Net Zero community sessions (Spring) iv.Westborough Environmental Action Fair -Saturday,May 13th,12 to 4 at High School 1.We’ll promote it 2.Any vendors -send suggestions to Linda 3.Encourage our members to attend v.Recycling Event -Saturday,June 17th b.Nicole -idea to influence local road race events to become more sustainable i.Water stations instead of plastic bottles -Linda suggests a few be purchased and loaned out -getting budget for it from the town or a department like Parks &Rec or a non-profit like 26.2 ii.Environmental bottles -use the boxes or cartons iii.Events need to be permitted by select board -provide best practices to the select board and organizations that put on events iv.Clubs like running,soccer etc. v.Zero waste and Environmental groups will work with Outreach on this vi.EMC and Fruit St are two places to target vii.How would the containers be filled,especially if the water has PFAS in it 1.[Linda added later that perhaps a PFAS filter on a town faucet could be used for filling it or maybe the group could solicit their own members who have well water that is tested to be PFAS free could fill it.There could be one container known to be PFAS free for infants,children,pregnant/nursing moms.See filters at https://watertechadvice.com/best-water-filters-that-remove-pfas-pf oa/] 8.Announcements from members a.None 9.Upcoming meetings a.Mar 6,2023 is the next meeting,at the Library lower level -the room and Google Meet TV are booked i.Expected known absences for next meeting:Kathy is tentative b.Note that the May meeting will be 5/8 (not 5/1,which is Town Meeting,which everyone should attend to vote on the Net Zero resolution and articles we support) c.Suggestions for upcoming agenda items i.See potential items - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rzJB-u5AkKpOHIgjubr3T3wWf_jby CAcT7l6qILjgQA/edit?usp=share_link ii.Annual calendar - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1okf057aloDFmW2KVa2rvEULm yMA92m1iJ7xHfHbnQ1k/edit?usp=share_link _________________________________________________________________________ These minutes were unanimously approved by the committee on Mar.6,2023