2021-09-28-SLC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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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.