2023-01-24-SLC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Sustainable Lexington Committee Minutes of January 24, 2023 Waste Reduction Task Force and other waste matters: Maggie reported that DPW is likely going with a new vendor with a five-year contract for $2.6 million and manual collection (automatic collection would have added $1.9 million to purchase bins town -wide). This is news to the task force, which has not met recently. Questions were asked about allowance for town -wide compost pickup, readjustment after two years, and more; Maggie will try to get answers. The consultant on the Zero Waste Plan is finalizing the draft report and is scheduled to present it to the Select Board on February 6. That evening options for a curbside compost pilot will also be presented. A subgroup is working on a grant application through EPA for a town -wide compost program to be phased in over three years; it is a nationwide program and very competitive. Todd asked about the discussions with Black Earth over use of Hartwell; Maggie reported that that conversation has gone silent, to which Cindy responded that she hopes the two parties are still willing to explore possibilities. Concern was expressed about the process for selecting a waste hauler, that the task force was left out of the final decision-making, and there seems to be lack of clarity on important details (e.g., can town -wide compost program and every -other -week pickup be inserted?). Cindy will send a note to the Select Board asking for answers to these questions before the SB signs off. BEU-D. No major updates. Maggie is waiting for a couple of final items from Eversource and National Grid to confirm that the process for building owners to get the information they need from the utilities will go smoothly. Heat pump promotion program with Abode. This is off to a good start. Thirty-two people have signed up and are connected with coaches and moving through the process. Outreach is continuing. ATM 2023 - Article to adopt municipal opt -in specialized building code. Preparations for ATM action on this are moving along. Maggie will be presenting this to the Select Board on February 6. 10 Communities FFF demonstration project. The state issued rules for the program at the end of December. The town's biggest decision is whether to apply with the existing bylaw the town enacted earlier, or adopt DOER's model bylaw, which is essentially the new code with removal of the mixed -fuel pathway and which offers better integration with the new code. We are waiting for additional guidance from DOER, and Maggie will circle back to town counsel for input. Green Fleet policy report update. Maggie circulated her report before the meeting. Town policy requires an annual report to the Select Board. This one is off -cycle, but by next year she will try to align it with the budgeting process. 2.