January 28, 2016 Meeting Minutes

Meeting date: 
Thursday, January 28, 2016

DRAFT - Meeting Minutes

1/28/16

6:08 pm

120 Washington Street, 3rd Floor

Attendees:  John Hayes, Jeff Cohen, Cindy Keegan, Craig Thomas, Jeff Elie, Jeff Barz-Snell, Rick Nye

Absent:  

Public in Attendance: Tom Gale (Salem resident), Rob Lutz (Salem resident)

 

Meeting Minutes approval/review:

  • Only draft September 2015 are posted on website.  Final needs to be submitted (if approved in October).
  • October draft meeting minutes reviewed and approved with modifications. (motioned by Jeff Cohen, seconded by Craig Thomas, unanimously approved)
  • November 2015 meeting was cancelled.
  • Approved minutes from 12/17/15: 6:20pm.  Approved unanimous (Jeff Cohen, Craig Thomas, Jeff Cohen, John Hayes)

Introduction – quick update on projects from Energy Manager

  • LED Streetlights Project is almost fully done.  (~3250 lights installed).  A few punch list items- to confirm list next Thursday & finalize decorative fixtures. Expect to be complete within 3 more weeks. 
  • Solar: Tighe & Bond has completed the structural review for Bentley.   Bentley would need some roof repairs.  Awaiting a bit more info on high school to complete roof evaluation.  Endless Mountain has firm pricing and feels comfortable with plans moving forward. 
  • Green Infrastructure Climate Change Resiliency Project grant with Salem Sound Coast Watch.  Site selection meeting today with Chester Engineering and SSCW, narrowed to 5 site, and now to 3 sites for conceptual “green engineering” design: Collin Coves, Furlong Park, and Juniper Cove.  Has been staying on schedule- expecting to have design late spring.  Next round of CZM funding is scheduled for March 2016, so we may have plans to apply for that.  Have done similar projects with Plymouth, and other south shore communities. Selection process and then lessons learned from the designs for these areas are planned to

General Discussion

  • New Member Discussion – The RETF needs several new members so the Committee will brainstorm potential new members.

Kathy Karch is believed to have submitted a letter of interest.

Tom Gale has expressed interest but is still deciding.

  • ASU Coastal Resiliency Planning Workshop – Member Craig Thomas is teaching an online class at Arizona State University on coastal resiliency planning which focuses on Salem. He will be sharing his syllabus for the class and querying the Task Force for help with the class. Fire deputy chief- emergency procedures are out of date.  (DOE gave MA grant fund for study of energy storage for what technologies might be best).  Requested to allow interviews of dept. heads and RETF to be available for interviews.  Consider info session- from RETF.
  • Goal setting for 2016 – RETF members hope to brainstorm list of items to accomplish in the year.  Ideas discussed included:
    • Info Session (March 15):  climate change, solar, wind,
    • Living Green Fair (sponsorships)- Footprint,
    • Endless Mountain – demo, film the installation,
    • Green Building tour
    • List of potential partners
    • Sponsors
    • Salem State April 11-15, Real Earth Day is during school vacation
    • Bylaws
    • Ordinance
    • Facebook group/ Website
  • Website Update – Discuss adding content to RETF site on Salem.com. Energy Manager can now add/edit content to provide more meaningful, up to date info. No specific discussion on this planned topic.  Tabled until future date.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS- NOT ON AGENDA

  • Rob Lutz (Salem citizen & owner of Cabot Management) brought to our attention a new development that will likely impact his existing solar array that was installed late 2014 because of new size (6 stories).  In Salem 2013 had 12 solar permits, but now there are 400 permits pulled so this will likely be a growing issue. It was proposed that the RETF consider reviewing and recommending an Ordinance that might require review during construction design that would include a solar impact study, re-imbursement of loss revenue, or trade location.  Jeff Cohen has looked at existing planning in other communities.
  • Jeff Cohen offered an update on the status of the Solar/Renewable Energy legislation.  Senate will propose new compromise to solar bill (now you get reimbursed at retail, house bill has fees, and lowers credit wholesale, the compromise takes mid-point, governor’s had no reduction to homeowners.) Jeff Cohen might go as advisor (Feb to Mar).  350.org will have something on North Shore for public.  End of Feb or early March.

 

 

Action Items (new):

  • Jeff Elie to talk with public art planner (Debra Greel) to see if PEM would consider a Renewable Energy exhibit.
  • John Hayes will review solar ordinances worldwide and report back in March to the group.

 

Action Items (outstanding):

  • Cindy Keegan to request meeting/call regarding “reset” button for committee (not the same protocols, limits, & new name: Sustainability & Resiliency).
  • Jeff Elie to provide table of activities to RETF members for draft for website/external communication.
  • RETF members to review table of activities and draft website/external communication.

 

Action Items (completed):

  • Cindy Keegan to send out draft 12/17-15 meeting minutes to all.
  • Jeff Elie to post final Sept & Oct meeting minutes, and draft Dec minutes.
  • Jeff Elie to post Youtube link about Bentley school on RETF website.

 

Future Meetings

  • Next meeting will be held on February 18, 2016 @ 6:00pm.
  • Proposed Topics to prepare for:
    • Website
    • Goals/New Year Planning
      • Exhibit at PEM
      • Wind
    • Solar ordinance updating

 

Adjournment: 7:40pm

 

Know Your Rights Under the Open Meeting Law, M.G.L. c. 39 §23B, and

City Ordinance Sections 2-2028 through 2-2033