HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-12-03-HATS-min Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS)
DRAFT Meeting Minutes
December 3, 2015
HATS Members. Peter Braun, HATS Chair and Lincoln Selectman, Steve Ng,
Concord Select Board, Michael Rosenberg, Bedford Selectman, Joe Pato,
Lexington Selectman.
Other HATS Representatives: Margaret Coppe.
Others in attendance: Amber Goodspeed, Massport; Mark Sandeen, Chair of
Lexington Sustainability Committee; Tanya Paglia, Regional Planner for
MAGIC/MAPC; Mark Mullins and Dave and Suzy Enos, Bedford Energy Task
Force; Allen Whitney, Concord Sustainable Energy Committee; John Snell and
Jennie Morris, Lincoln Green Energy Comm., Terry Gleason, Janet Powers, and
Christine Dudley-Marling, Bedford; Kay Tiffany, Lexington; Jane Hotchkiss,
Concord
Introductions and Announcements
Mr Braun opened the meeting at the Lincoln Town Offices at 7:30 p.m. He
offered condolences for the recent murder in Israel of a recent graduate of the
school where Mr. Rosenberg is a longtime member of the senior staff, noting that
this is the second such tragedy suffered by the school community in the past
year. Mr. Rosenberg said that he appreciated the sentiments.
Climate Change/Sustainability: A Roundtable Discussion of Thoughts and
Activities of the HATS Towns and Other Municipal-Related Organization
(Moderated By Mark Sandeen, Chair of Lexington Sustainability Committee)
Boards and committees have been encouraged to take climate change into
account, which stimulated holding today's discussion. The discussion was turned
over to Mr. Sandeen to talk about the problem of climate change, hear from
the representatives from each town, have a discussion of MAPC and MAGIC
resilience program efforts toward regional cooperation and a panel discussion
about collaborative efforts.
There was a brief presentation of region storm history and impacts related to
100-year storm predictions to include the floods of 2010, hurricane Irene in
2011 , hurricane Sandy in 2012, winter storm Nemo in 2013, showing a chart the
clearly shows the storms are getting larger and more frequent due to changes in
polar vortex impacting the jet stream keeping the cold weather more stable Data
since 1957 shows that the northeast is getting hit harder than anywhere in North
America (and the US more than the rest of the globe) and the increase in
rain impacts our local stormwater infrastructure and building designs.
Bedford Initiatives - Mark Mullins, Chair of Energy Task Force -
Other groups include Transition Town focusing on recycling, Mothers Out Front,
Sierra Club, St. Paul's Church Sustainability Committee, Lane School, Bedford
High, Unitarian Church, Middlesex Community College. Energy Task Force
stated we have a designation of a green community and goals include reducing
energy consumption by 20% and are at 12% now (at 22% savings since
2007). Briefly reviewed recent and ongoing projects and how incorporating
sustainability as well as being involved in environmental initiatives (see slides).
Concord Initiatives - Alan Whitney, Chair of Sustainable Energy Committee -
Developed master plan and gave a brief overview of Concord sustainability
related groups to include Concord Climate Action Network, independent grass
roots organization, Mothers Out Front, high school groups and church groups.
Concord CAN has a newsletter that gets published and distributed. The Alfred H.
Sawyer Trust Fund in the amount of $1 .7m assists in successfully reducing
energy and improving sustainability Also requesting town funds for this purpose.
Discussed solar challenges and other grants and initiatives (see slides)
Lincoln Initiatives - John Snell, Lincoln Green Energy Tech. Comm. -
Working with the State to reduce carbon emissions and showed 2008 GWSA
data. Passed energy bylaw, worked with Architecture 2030, and gave an
overview of initiatives as a green community. Reviewed budget and
infrastructure needed to install solar PV and buy renewable energy.
Lexington Initiatives - Mark Sandeen, Chair Lexington Sustainability Committee -
Lexington is blessed with lots of volunteers and Lex GWACS association and
have a very active League of Women's Voters organization that both ran
community engagement sessions regarding what climate action could be taken.
Mothers Out Front has recently come on board and they also have Save
Tomorrow (started as 3rd graders and are now in 6th grade) campaigning as well
as interfaith and green corridor groups. Work to engage the community in a
climate action plan to assign priorities and analyze data for areas of greatest
impact. Conducted vulnerability assessment and biggest vulnerabilities are
electricity and water infrastructure. Also looking at minimizing carbon emissions
(greatest for electricity and looking at Community Choice Aggregation),
addressing natural gas leaks, installing solar systems and building green schools
and better buildings in general (see slides).
Tanya Paglia, MAPC -
They are working with 13 towns in a MAGIC Climate Resilience plan in the region
(which includes 101 cities and towns). They meet monthly and decided climate
change is the No 1 priority Working on developing an overview plan and
the beginning stages will include data gathering, GIS mapping and a vulnerability
assessment. Will incorporate public input to include public stakeholders and
make recommendations. Reviewed reporting, key terms, vulnerable groups,
history that brought us to this point, impacts and challenges.
Discussion was opened for questions and comments.
Discussed aggregating choice of energy source by opting in; PVs on parking lots
and public space; utilities integrating consumer options; outreach by Selectmen;
Air Force PV plan, gas leaks, billing and infrastructure, MBTA response,
participation, data collection and conversion to energy efficient vehicles. Future
implementation and cooperation was discussed as well as providing aggregated
usage data by Town on an ongoing basis Everyone was thanked for attending
and participating and the hope was expressed that the discussion could be
hosted again in a year. Video and presentation will be available on the HATS
website at hanscomareatownscommittee.com.
MassPort/Air Field
Community Advisory Committee — Status Report
Amber Goodspeed, Massport, was asked regarding quorum requirement for
CAC. Forty members have been chosen from towns, and the bylaw committee
meets on a regular basis -- the Concord Rep. is on the bylaw subcommittee and
they will meet again on 12/11 The Lincoln Rep. said the full committee tried to
meet in late Sep. but was unable to achieve_a quorum - they were going to see if
quorum totals could be reduced to avoid this problem in the future. The
Subcommittee is working on this.
There has been an increase in air traffic noise complaints in certain Boston-area
communities due to recently revised Logan flight paths, which are being
addressed via the Logan CAC that predates the MassPort CAC.an exponential
increaso in traffic noise at, t Logan on. - - - , . - - - - - e . - ie . e . :e.
meeting on thic is ,je This is the pre existing Logan related CAC
Hanscom Field Advisory Commission (HFAC) Update
The next meeting is in 2 weeksand ilt was reported that the 2014 noise level is
the lowest since measurements beqanit has cvcr been.
Regional Transportation and Related Concerns
Rt. 2 Updates (Crosby Corner and 1-95 Bridge Projects)
The temporary bridge over 128 is in place, but there are lane restrictions at
certain times. The Crosby Corner project will slow down due to the winter. Much
of the landscaping is in place, to be completed in the Spring. The new secondary
roads have been named Mr Ng will share a link regarding MBTA's census
survey. Schedule changes were announced with little notice and no input from
affected communities. This is being addressed by the Legislative Delegation.
Future Meetings and Main Agenda Items
Jan. 28 - Nancy Nelson of the Minuteman National Park, potentially Lt. Gov.
Polito, although her staff cannot confirm meetings beyond six weeks in advance.
Feb 25 — MassPort CEO Thomas Glynn
March - No meeting
April 28 — New Chair to be voted in formally (Concord is next in line)
Other potential topics. Task Force Update, MBTA/Traffic Redux, Lt.Gov.,
Legislators; new Colonel in the Fall
Minutes — October 22, 2015 Meeting
There were no comments or edits to the minutes. Mr. Braun asked for a motion
to approve
Mr. Rosenberg moved to approve the 10/22/15 minutes as is. Mr. Pato
seconded the motion. There was no discussion. Vote: Approved 4-0-0.
Adjourn
Mr. Rosenberg moved to adjourn. Mr. Braun seconded the motion. Vote.
Approved 4-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:36pm.