Committee for a Better Environment

Committee for a Better Environment Davis Hall, College Park Final - October 28, 2013 7:00 PM Members Present Absent Suchitra Balachandran X Gemma Evans X Alan Hew X Stephen Jascourt X Benjamin Mellman X Janis Oppelt X Kennis Termini X Donna Weene X Macrina Xavier X Guests Present: Patrick Wojahn, Council Member, Terry Schum, City Liaison, Denise M. Palmer, Contract Secretary Ms. Evans called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. 1. Review minutes 9/23 and 8/26 Ms. Oppelt made a motion to approve the September 23, 2013 minutes with revisions and Ms. Balachandran seconded the motion and to approve the minutes of the August 26, 2013 as previously corrected at the September meeting. 2. Review financial report Ms. Schum reported CBE spent $404.00 this Fiscal Year on the Canning Workshop. A total of $10,976 is left in the budget. 3. Events: a. Recap i. College Park Day Mr. Mellman reported that the event was good and there was interest in the Kill-O-Watt meters and if they are available for rent. It was suggested that two of them could go to Public Works and perhaps City Hall could keep the other two and track them. Ms. Schum said she would bring it up at their upcoming staff meeting. ii. Environmental Film Series Ms. Evans suggested a vote on the screening rights for the film, “Dirt.” Ms. Oppelt indicated that the cost for the film is $100 and it was a good film and is able to be screened in the public. The next two films on the list were also very good. Ms. Evans inquired if CBE purchases the screening rights for the film, is it good for only one showing. Ms. Oppelt offered to gather all of the information and distribute it to the Committee and the Committee should hold off on the vote until all of the details are available. Ms. Evans suggested that Ms. Oppelt take the necessary steps to purchase the screening rights of the film “Dirt” and show it as many times as possible. It was also suggested that the film should be shown before spring for those interested in gardening. Mr. Hew mentioned that he has a contact who is an expert on soil and he can check with him to see if he would be available to do a talk on the subject. b. Upcoming - ? November 30, 2013 is the date for the Canning Workshop. Ms. Oppelt suggested approximately 12 people hands on can be accommodated at the workshop, while others can observe. She made a motion to approve $350 for supplies and speaker fee. Mr. Mellman seconded the motion and it was unanimous. 4. Other old business a. Strategic Planning Ms. Evans indicated there is room for additional members to serve on CBE, therefore, the committee agreed to table strategic planning until such time as the Committee has filled its roster. b. Website updates Ms. Evans asked Ms. Schum for an update on the CBE website. Ms. Schum reported that it is being updated and currently they do not have a date when it will go live. The staff will have an opportunity to preview it first. All changes and revisions should be forwarded to her and the staff will make changes. Mr. Hew suggested hiring a student to assist in putting the content for the website together. Ms. Evans asked Ms. Schum to forward any information that is in need of updating to the committee. c. Solid Waste Initiative & Plans – composting, Zero Waste, Business Recycling, PAYT Ms. Balachandran gave an update and indicated that she and Ms. Evans attended a Prince Georges County ribbon cutting event. A food scrap program is being started as a pilot program and will hopefully expand to businesses and residents. The MDE has been working over the last couple of years on composting regulations for the state of Maryland. There was interest in smaller compost facilities as opposed to one large one. Eco City Farms is looking into a grant to teach people how to run a compost facility. Other discussions revolved around what type of things Pepco would allow. She suggests bringing an intern on board to follow up on composting and to evaluate how we should go forward with our Composting Workshop. Ms. Balachandran suggested writing an ad for the University of Maryland and involving Catherine McGraf as the intern and advertise on the ListServe. If the position starts out on a volunteer basis, it is possible that it can move into a paid position. It was advisable to move forward on this before the next semester. 5. New business Ms. Oppelt created a brochure on zero waste, and it would like assistance in having it updated. Mr. Hew offered to assist in revising the format. Ms. Balachandran indicated that Zero Waste Associates has a strategic plan for the county. She inquired if CBE would like to co-sponsor it and hold the meetings at City Hall. Ms. Schum can assist with researching the audio visual capacity at City Hall. Ms. Balachandran made a motion for CBE to be involved in the strategic plan and Ms. Evans seconded the motion and it was unanimous. Ms. Evans reported that Prince Georges Stormwater Management and the county has grant money available for several items. She suggested putting the information on ListServ to see if anyone in the area is doing anything innovative with rain barrels. Ms. Oppelt suggested we research the Rain Barrel Workshop and discuss it at the next meeting. Mr. Hew suggested that residents with rain barrels submit a picture of their rain barrel for inclusion on CBE’s website. Ms. Oppelt informed the committee that sadly Ballard Troy passed away a couple of weeks ago and that he will be missed on the Committee. Ms. Schum offered to find a family contact for Mr. Troy for anyone who wanted to offer their condolences. Mr. Hew suggested dedicating the flyer that Ms. Oppelt is working on to him since he worked very hard on it. Ms. Evans went over the tasks that are to be followed up the various committee members which include: Ms. Weene to research the induction stove; Mr. Hew to assist in updating the CBE website; Ms. Schum to receive revisions/updates for the new website; Ms. Oppelt and Ms. Balachandran to write an ad in search of an intern; Mr. Wojahn to follow up with the committee on business recycling; Ms. Oppelt to send Zero Waste brochure to committee members; Mr. Mellman to compose and circulate a recruitment letter for new CBE members with the assistance of Ms. Oppelt and Ms. Evans. Ms. Evans inquired of the upcoming meeting dates for November and December. The committee discussed the dates and agreed to keep November 25, 2013 for the next meeting to be held at Davis Hall. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. with a Pot Luck Dinner and committee members can email the type of food they would like to bring to the meeting. It was also decided to cancel the December meeting, but be prepared to hold the January meeting in the New Year. There being no further business for discussion, Ms. Evans made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m. Ms. Oppelt seconded the motion and it was unanimous. Minutes prepared by Denise M. Palmer, Contract Secretary