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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-28-SLC-min RECEIVED d 21 2 3 IIS ov, 4, 11 p ui °m Sustainable Lexington Committee TOWN CLERK Minutes of Meeting of September 28, 2021 LEXINGTON MA A meeting of the Sustainable Lexington Committee (SLC)was held by Zoom conference. A quorum of seven was present throughout. Members Present: Cindy Arens, Paul Chernick, Archana Dayalu, Rick Reibstein, Todd Rhodes (vice-chair), Dan Voss (Chair), Charlie Wyman Members Absent: Celis Brisbin Staff Present: None Staff Absent: Stella Carr Other Attendees: Joe Pato (Select Board), Mark Sandeen (Select Board), Mary Hutton (Mothers Out Front), Ricki Pappo (LexCAN), Jeanne Krieger, Paul Gromer(Peregrine Energy), Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Tamara Lord (Master's candidate in engineering at UMass Amherst, looking at how towns are organized around sustainability), Marcia Gens, Daniel Koretz (Noise Advisory Committee), Lin Jensen The meeting was called to order at 6:03 pm. Todd referenced the opening statement requested by the Town Clerk, and all members present responded that they could hear. Todd introduced Tamara, who introduced herself. Approval of minutes: The draft minutes of August 24, 2021, were approved as written. Comments from residents; New business: None. Update on Community Choice Aggregation program and anticipated increased savings to residents/participants relative to Eversource Basic Service rates: Todd noted that Eversource's anticipated announcement of their new winter rates in November, which are likely to be significantly higher than Community Choice, will create an opportunity to promote the latter. Paul Gromer reviewed the recent history of Eversource and CC prices, and also noted that DPU, which regulates aggregation programs, frowns on programs that promote themselves on price and encourages towns to be extremely cautious about predictions on savings. Concerns were expressed about Clean Choice as well, which continues its mail promotion campaign pitching 100%renewable, but at higher prices than Lexington for a product with less New England renewables. Paul reported that Lexington Community Choice market share is about 74%, with 15% competitive supply and 10% Eversource basic service. Sustainable Lexington Committee Minutes of September 28, 2021 A consensus emerged that a mailer in the next tax bill would be good; Paul will work with Stella on the details. The mailer could also go on the Town website, and Mark suggested a presentation by Stella to the Select Board after Eversource announces its new rate and after Town Meeting. Approval of letter of support for the Sustainability Director's Climate Action Plan project, to be sent to the Select Board. Todd explained that the proposed article would repurpose the $30,000 left over from the Getting to Net Zero report and would authorize additional spending to allow the Town and MAPC to produce an update to the Sustainable Action Plan, to be called a Climate Action Plan. Concern was expressed about the fate of those parts of the Sustainable Action Plan not included in the Climate Action Plan, which we don't want to be lost. It was agreed to tweak the language of the letter to clarify that the Climate Action Plan won't replace the Sustainable Action Plan but merely update it, and accordingly the committee approved an amendment to the letter with revised wording for the article itself: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to plan and conduct outreach to update the Sustainable Action Plan with a Climate Action Plan; to determine whether the money shall be provided by the tax levy, by transfer from available funds, or by a combination of these methods; or act in any other manner in relation thereto. As edited, the letter was approved unanimously. Update on BEUDO warrant article activities, including performance objectives for Town buildings. Todd reported that the working group has produced a draft and has asked Stella for a meeting with Town counsel to review. They will be conducting outreach with large building owners in town and will be presenting to the Select Board in December for inclusion in the Annual Town Meeting warrant for the spring. Dan reported that they have been meeting with Shawn Newell and Mike Cronin on a high-performance building facility policy and guidelines, and have a draft of a policy document and a draft of the metrics that will go beyond energy to cover other sustainability issues like indoor air quality and toxics, issues of testing and reporting, etc. Rick suggested it should include estimates of cost savings (health, regulatory, disposal, etc.) by avoiding toxics. Update on Article 45/Hybrid HVAC working group activities. Cindy reported that Amanda Loomis suggested they explore other initiatives that might help achieve their ends, such as tax incentives, talking to new developments about installing solar, etc. [See also the discussion of the citizens' article below.] Landscaping, land use. Charlie reported that the Planning Board is considering new design standards for special permits and site plan review that include a number of good provisions for sustainable landscape design; the hearing has been continued until October 6. Noise Committee article regarding Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers (GLBs). Dan Koretz reported that the Noise Committee's article limiting and eventually banning GLBs will come before this fall's Special Town Meeting. It is similar to the article proposed in the spring, with slightly different 2. Sustainable Lexington Committee Minutes of September 28, 2021 hourly and seasonal limits; the ban, to take effect in March of 2024, will include all GLBs, not just ones in commercial use. Dan expects strenuous opposition. The committee discussed various ways to help, and voted unanimously to endorse the article. Article to allow the Town to enter into long-term_ (M to 20 year) agreements for electric vehicles. Todd reported that there is confusion about whether someone is requesting postponement to the spring. The article originally targeted school buses, but Town counsel suggested it be broadened to electric vehicles more generally. Citizen's article regarding the setting of standards for sustainable design and to limit the use of on-site fossil fuel combustion for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning(HVAC) systems in CM districts. Cindy reported that there is a citizens article that will bring the same wording as originally proposed as an amendment to Article 45 in the spring to a vote at this fall's Special Town Meeting. She made the point that redevelopment on Hartwell will start happening and we can't wait for other measures that will apply to buildings more broadly; the ability to use incentive zoning for lab buildings on Hartwell provides a mechanism for requiring hybrid HVAC systems. The one significant change is the lowering of the base heating capacity by heat pumps to 5 btu/sq ft(same number as NEEP EZ Code for all buildings). The group is looking for more discussion with the building commissioner about how the systems are described. The committee voted unanimously to endorse the article. Todd will provide letters of support for the Select Board meeting on October 25 and the Planning Board hearing on November 3. Planning for Re-Discovery Day on Saturday, October 9th. Todd described plans and logistics. He'll be in touch with more detail. Cedar Street sidewalk. Joe mentioned the current discussion about a sidewalk on Cedar Street and the impact it will have on many mature trees. Engineering is developing a mitigation plan. Rick advocated that a standard of"reasonable care" be articulated. Ricki pointed out the 2013 vote of Town Meeting that climate change be taken into account with all decisions. Charlie will be attending the Tree Committee meeting on the 14th. Student project. Rick mentioned another project his students are doing with a group helping cities get information from utilities that they need to track progress towards climate goals. They have sent an MOU to Lexington for consideration. Next Meeting: The next regularly scheduled meeting of Sustainable Lexington is at 6 pm on October 26, 2021. The committee voted to adjourn at 8:30. Respectfully submitted, Charlie Wyman 3.