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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-20-NAC-min Town of Lexington Noise Advisory Committee(NAC) Minutes of Meeting January 20,2021 A meeting of the Noise Advisory Committee ("NAC")was held via Zoom videoconference on Wednesday January 20, 2021 at 7:00 PM. A quorum of four members was present. NAC Members Present: Dan Koretz (Chair), Vicki Blier,April Wang, Nick Afshartous, Stewart Smith Others Present:Judith Glixon (Volunteer) Opening Remarks 1. Approval of the Minutes Dan presented the minutes of the November 24, 2020 meeting. The committee voted to accept them. 2. Discussion of issues related to the Chair's scheduled February 8, 2021 presentation to the Select Board. In anticipation of the Committee's presentation to the Select Board, Dan led a discussion of issues having the potential to arise during the presentation. Among these, it was noted that the cost landscapers would be required to incur in converting to battery powered equipment would likely be regarded as an issue by the Board. There is little comparison cost data available for similar gas-powered equipment bans in the Northeast US as a number of those are recent.There is data available from the numerous municipalities in California which have enacted bans. However,those cost breakdowns do not fully match Lexington's scenario since the California landscaping industry runs for 12 months per year(climate) and the local landscape management season is much shorter.A CA consultant working in this area (Dan Mabe),which the Committee had communicated with,was not able to be of assistance at this time. Dan noted that he had reached out to Harvard for information on the costs of its conversion to battery powered equipment but had not heard back. The Committee discussed other possible sources of cost information. These included reaching out to at least one local landscaper who had already made the conversion. Other ideas involved comparing the use of electric cars in terms of lower cost of operation. Nick also noted the continuing need to explore bulk discounts on electric equipment.Judith suggested that the Committee send an email to various community groups inquiring as to available grants. It was agreed that Nick would get back in touch with retailers to attempt to get a rough idea of potential equipment discounts. Dan and Vicki each will contact two of the four electric landscapers on the NAC website. Dan advised the Committee that he would put together a brief slide presentation for the Board and circulate it to the NAC members for comments prior to submission to the Select Board. There being no further business,the Meeting was adjourned. Next meeting The Committee agreed that the next meeting of the NAC would take place following the Chair's presentation to the Select Board at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, February?.. .'...... There being no further business,the meeting was adjourned at 8:OOpm. Action Items Person Responsible Due Date 1. Review and update our list of towns that have Dan/Nick Ongoing regulated lawn equipment. Make calls to find success stories that can be presented to the Select Board and TM. 2. Reorganize and consolidate the information we have Stewart Complete collected over time on health effects, etc. 3. Craft one or more short blurbs and slide presentations Dan Complete based on#2,for use in approaching the groups noted below. 4. Contact the Board of Health to ask for support. We Nick(with assistance Complete should do this ASAP as soon as we have#2 done (as we from Mark S.) should reference specific studies on health effects in approaching Wendy Heiger-Bernays. 5. Request opportunities to present to Lexington civic Throughout groups, including: October and a. Sustainable Lexington a. Mark S November b. Lex GWAC b. Judith C. Citizens for Lexington Conservation c. Judith d. League of Women Voters d. Judith e. Lexington Mavens e. April f. Mothers Out Front f. Judith g. Lexington Green Teams (Cindy Arens) g. Judith 6. Create and distribute survey to collect usable data on Mark M In Progress GLB public opinion April 7. Decide whether to contact people who participated in Dan Pending earlier threads. Note that this is easier if we have something like a survey,which gives us a reason to contact them. 8. Obtain MA Medical Association resolution on leaf Stewart Completed blowers (Wendy Alker?) 9. Plan one or two virtual public meetings. Deferred Pending 10. Plan contact with TM members Deferred Pending 11. Do additional social-media work(not entirely specified Stella to assist Pending yet).