Energy and Sustainability Advisory Committee

Apr 2, 2024 | RESAC Monthly Meeting Attendees: Mary Ellen Eagan, Nathan Smith, Lee Humphreys, Nancy Galland, Ellie Mersereau Student Member: Joshua Placides Sustainability Coordinator: Jenny Carter Welcome and Housekeeping a.​ Recording Secretary for today: Lee Humphreys b.​ Introduction of members c.​ Community guidelines and RESAC overview: Decision: No need to go through d.​ Minutes from meeting 3/12/24 Approved e.​ Public Comment: None Committee Administration a.​ Nathan requests that minutes be put in the folder marked minutes. Check messages in chat. b.​ Nathan and Mary Ellen will work on a new member flow chart. Jenny suggested that more should be included in the new member packet. Nathan suggested a link to the City website. c. Recruitment of student members: Increasing the number of student members to three, seen as positive. Annual Goal Setting To be finalized by July, the start of the next fiscal year April meeting: We reviewed goals in the context of the Comprehensive Plan. May meeting: Continue to work on goals and objectives. June meeting: Finalize and vote. Vision and Guiding Principles Sustainability (prominent in Comprehensive Plan) Food Insecurity Affordable Housing Recycling  Comments and discussion: We are meant to be a support for groups addressing sustainability issues. Do we want to approach these groups to accelerate some of these projects? Jenny suggests we identify goals that can be accomplished in a shorter time frame such as the harbor cleanup. Nan promoted the idea of an additional harbor cleanup in the fall. Ellie identified a need for receptacles downtown. Nathan offered to establish a database. Because we now have a full complement of members on the committee, Mary Ellen suggested that we can perhaps expand our efforts, but recommended that we not overcommit ourselves. Jenny’s suggestion: Individual members write down ideas for the next meeting. Members should formulate ideas and actions associated with these ideas. Mary Ellen and Nathan will set up a smart goal framework. Climate Action Plan We will collaborate with and support Jenny, but this is not something we can as a group take on independently. Window Dressers Will be continued Recharge Rockland Jenny would like help with this. She has organized many events such as speakers at the Library. Nathan would like to broaden the scope of the Electrification Expo. He will find out the capacity of heat pump installers. Numbers of installers could be a limiting factor in the promotion of heat pumps. Mary Ellen suggests we possibly collaborate with or get ideas from other town sustainability groups such as MaineCam (Maine Climate and Energy Action Network) Food Security Discussion Renew Rockland has Community Gardens Rockland’s Tree Board received a grant to plant 40 fruit trees. South School has a garden. The library offers excess produce from the Knox County Gleaners. We can reach out to Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener Program. Joshua might explore a future garden project at Oceanside. Pollution Discussion Ellie is concerned about the off gassing from Food Waste. Lee mentioned the high percentage of organic waste that goes to the transfer station. The city could save money if organic waste was diverted or converted constructively.  Nan previously worked with a group that began to create educational materials to promote adherence to the pesticide ordinance passed by the city. Their efforts were halted by the pandemic. She would like to reconstitute a group to do pesticide education. Jenny said the City no longer uses pesticides on public property. Sustainability Coordinator Update a.​ Expand Electrification Expo b.​ Continue work on Bike Plan c.​ Planning new Recharge Rockland Outreach d.​ Developing a progress report e.​ Continue progress on bike plan programming Sub Committee Updates Lee sent all members the flyer with the website link created by Jenny for the Harbor Cleanup. Final Notes: Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 7 Reminder: Sign up for My Rockland. Reach out to Nathan for technical help. Ellie and Nan have submitted their paperwork. Jenny will check on status with Stuart. Volunteer for the April 20 Harbor Cleanup Meeting adjourned at 6:27