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Town of Lexington
Sustainable Lexington Committee
Minutes of Meeting of April 2, 2019
A meeting of the Sustainable Lexington Committee (SLC) was held in the Hudson Room in Cary
Hall. A quorum of six was present.
Members Present: Celis Brisbin, Marcia Gens, Rick Reibstein, Todd Rhodes, Dan Voss,
Charlie Wyman
Members Absent: None
Other Attendees: Joe Pato (Board of Selectmen)
Paul Chernek
Alan Sherman
Jonathan Himmel (Permanent Building Committee)
Chuck Favazzo (Permanent Building Committee)
Mark Sandeen (arrived 9:00 pm)
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm.
1. Review and approve minutes of previous meeting
The minutes of the meeting of February 26, 2019, were approved as written.
2. Re-organization of Sustainable Lexington
Election of Chair
o The previous chair, Mark Sandeen, has resigned, having won a seat on the Board
of Selectmen (BOS).
o Discussion focused on how Dan Voss and Todd Rhodes might share leadership
duties, with Dan focused on driving issues and outreach, and Todd focused on
organization and administration. The use of task forces to make progress outside
meetings, the need for new members, and increased diversity were all mentioned.
o It was moved, seconded, and voted to elect Dan Voss as chair and Todd Rhodes
as vice-chair
Other organizational issues
o The proposal to absorb the Energy Conservation Committee into Sustainable
Lexington was discussed. At this point, only Paul and Alan are active, interested
members of the ECC. It was the committee’s consensus that with the overlap in
the purposes of the two committees, merging and expansion of the number of
members of SL makes good sense.
o Todd will redline the SL charter, run it by Dan and ECC members, and forward it
to Joe for comment, with the goal of presenting a revised charter for discussion at
the next meeting
o We need to fill the one empty slot on SL, and expansion beyond the nine
contemplated (7 authorized plus 2 ECC) was discussed and encouraged.
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Committee members will reach out to the BOS and other contacts to identify and
consider additional candidates.
3. Integrated Building Design Policy – review of latest updates
Dan reported that he participated in a meeting organized by the Town Manager, Jim
Malloy, to review and edit the Integrated Building Design Policy. Participants included
the Permanent Building Committee (PBC), Department of Public Facilities (DPF),
Selectmen, School Committee, Capital Committee, and others. A consensus has been
reached on a revised draft of the policy, which he walked the committee through.
The policy is focused on new construction, with a second policy to be developed for
building operation. It covers both town and school buildings, with the Selectmen having
oversight of the former and sharing responsibility for the latter with the School
Committee. In each case, the boards will approve outcomes early in the process (based on
goals and LEED standards), which will guide design and provide a basis for evaluation.
Rick expressed a desire that the document reference other documents that provide
additional context (Sustainable Action Plan, lifecycle economic assessment protocol, etc.)
Todd walked the committee through the current goals draft. This draft was based on edits
recommended by the PBC at their meeting on March 12. Several minor clarifications
were added; one (regarding 2.2.2) will be revisited offline for wordsmithing.
It was moved, seconded and voted to approve the policy and goals and forward them to
the Town Manager.
These documents don’t address the question of how the stated broad goals are translated
into the details of goal setting for individual buildings; PBC has thoughts about a LEED
Lexington checklist, and will share for further discussion.
4. Town Meeting – Updates on Warrant Articles
Todd reported that Articles 31 (Polystyrene packaging ban), 32 (Plastic straws ban), and
36 (Outcomes-based building construction and management policy) all passed. Article 8
(Funding for sustainability actions) was indefinitely postponed as no mechanism is
known to achieve this. Article 9 (Sustainability Director) was indefinitely postponed, the
parties having reached consensus that the Town Manager will prepare a recommendation
for creating this position, but a directive from Town Meeting for a specific staff position
is considered inappropriate.
5. Waste Task Force Report
Joe reported on the recent Board of Selectmen’s tour of EL Harvey’s materials recycling
facility in Westborough. Most of what is sent is recycled, but the paper market is weak,
and some of it sometimes sits for a while and may become so degraded as to become
worthless.
Charlie reported from the “parallel” tour for committee members and town staff: the
Westborough facility is not where Lexington recyclables go, but to a Waste Management
facility in Billerica under contract to Harvey; discussion focused on improving
information to town residents and schools to improve the quality of the materials, which
will aid in recycling rates
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6. Constellation NewEnergy and Energy Supplier Marketing
The error in Constellation NewEnergy’s notice to Lexington residents was noted and
needs to be corrected; options include the Minuteman and a mailed letter.
The Peregrine Group, the Town’s electricity broker, has worked with Constellation to
prepare a statement that explains the error. Mark explained that the statement doesn’t
explain the mistake – he has already made recommended edits. Dan asked Rick, Alan,
and Paul to make addition edits, as needed, and return the draft to The Peregrine Group.
They are planning to submit it to The Minuteman for publication and will work with the
Town’s Public Information Officer, Sean Dugan.
Rick expressed concern about the marketing of electricity supply by companies in calls to
residents, which are often misleading and perhaps borderline illegal. Mark noted that
enrollment in Community Choice has declined from 95% to 91% as marketers talk
residents into switching, despite compelling evidence that Community Choice is the
better option. The idea of directing residents to a website or telephone number they can
call for clear information about Community Choice was discussed.
Dan asked Rick, Alan, and Paul to meet and come up with a recommended strategy for
addressing this issue. The Town’s Public Information Officer, Sean Dugan, should be
included in these discussions.
7. Solar Task Force
Dan explained that the task force is meeting next Thursday to review where things stand.
Energy storage behind the meter is a promising area to pursue.
8. BBRS Letter
Celis explained that a coalition led by MCAN wants to broaden the stretch code to have
net zero application, and has asked towns to lobby the Mass. Board of Building
Regulation and Standards to revise the code.
Celis and Charlie will polish the draft letter and send to Todd to be forwarded to Joe for
presentation to the Selectmen.
9. Indoor Air Natural Gas Study
Bob Ackley of Gas Safety Inc. and Mothers Out Front are collaborating on a study to
measure methane or natural gas levels inside homes and other buildings. Mark brought
this to our attention, and there is interest in Lexington’s participation, both for residences
and for other buildings (including schools). Mark will reach out to Ackley to clarify the
offer, Dan will talk to DPF, and Marcia will talk to community groups to identify
volunteers for to participate in the program.
10. Sustainability Director
Dan will send a note to the Town Manager saying he’d like to work with him on this.
11. Paris Accord Reporting
Todd will touch base with Mark and follow up with the Town Manager and Celis. July
deadline for reporting.
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12. Gas Leaks
Mark reported that DPU has issued regulations requiring all super-emitters to be fixed in
two years, and all leaks within eight. He suggested we invite National Grid back for a
celebration of the leak identification study and ask them to use Lexington as a pilot for
fixing leaks.
13. Discovery Day
Todd will take the lead on filing the application for SL participation. We are not doing
anything for Patriots Day, for lack of time.
14. Getting to Net Zero
Mark reported that the Town Manager asked for Mark’s thoughts on whether the $40,000
appropriated under Article 7 at last year’s Annual Town Meeting (“That the Town
appropriate $40, 000 for Phase III of a study to determine whether the Town can develop
guidelines for achieving building which results in no greenhouse gas emissions, to be
spent under the direction of the Town Manager”) might be repurposed to help meet the
costs of installing turf at the Center track and field. There is a question of whether the
funds can be repurposed without Town Meeting approval. Joe and Mark will discuss
further.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 23, at 7:00 pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Charlie Wyman
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