Sustainability, Energy, & Resiliency Committee

Sustainability Energy and Resiliency Committee (SERC) Meeting Minutes July 27, 2022, 6:30 P.M. Remote Participation Board Members Present Chair John Hayes Rick Nye Doug Bowker Vice Chair Chris Cantone City Staff and Others Present: Stacy Kilb, Sustainability Engagement Coordinator (recorder) Jeff Cohen, City Council Liaison Erin Casey (soon-to-be SERC Board Member) Board Members Absent Vice Chair Gail Kubik (resigned) Phil Koch Public: SATV (recording) Jim Lacy (he/him/his) Geri Steve Kapantais John DiModica Bruce Introduction Public Comment • Jim Lacy (he/him/his), resident 30 Sumner Rd. Owns solar panels. He currently uses two, 250-gallon tanks to collect and re-use rainwater. Uses large cubes like this and could use two more to collect an add’l 500 gallons o All are welcome to come to his house, see everything, and charge their EVs for free there • Chris Cantone reports that Senator Joe Manchin will support the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The bill includes $369.75 billion in Energy Security and Climate Change programs over the next 10 years and calls to reduce carbon emissions by roughly 40 percent by 2030. 98 WASHINGTON STREET, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 ♦ TEL: 978.745.9595 FAX: 978.740.0404 ♦ WWW.SALEM.COM City Council Liaison Report (Jeff Cohen) • This item is heard first • Next City Council meeting is Sept. 15th, it is important for Erin Casey to be there for final vote, she can speak if she wants to. If not present at the second meeting, she can’t get confirmed until the following meeting • Ordinance Committee meetings are going on though the full Council is not meeting in August. Public Health, Safety & the Environment (PHSE) meets tomorrow re: prohibition on feeding wildlife ordinance • GBO (Green Building Ordinance) was submitted 3 years ago. Municipal buildings passed in January. Jeff is rewriting the Ordinance for non-municipal properties and hoping to bring it before the full City Council in late Jan/early Feb 2023. It is like the municipal one but includes bike parking and EV charging stations. Will be submitted to relevant committees first, then City Council. • Legislature did not push the Green Futures Act so it is not happening this term. It passed the Climate and Clean Energy Bill, An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind. The governor had 10 days to vote, and while it is veto-proof, it is not as comprehensive or as good as the Green Futures. It does contain language about Mass Save, biomass, EVs, offshore wind, and the ability for 10 communities that attempted to eliminate new gas lines to move forward. This may enable Salem to allow something, if so he will come before SERC. Guest Speaker: Carol Hautau and Bonnie Bain, SalemRecycles, to discuss work of the Committee Discuss how SERC can support SalemRecycles • Presentation Link: • SalemRecycles, like the Engineering and Sustainability Departments, is also experiencing upheavals • Mission • Committee Member Responsibilities • Annual Events • TerraCycle Initiatives ▪ Discussion of need to switch to permanent, non-disposable options ▪ Educate public on this. Ex. Unpacked Living in Beverly ▪ We don’t live in a plastic free world yet ▪ TerraCycle process: did a deep transparency drive after CA lawsuit • “One-time recycling” is what they do. They find ways to re-use • Website is clear on how items are handled • Started “Loop,” which avoids some packaging problems • SalemRecycles will add second collection location when Waste Reduction Coordinator is hired • Historic Education/Outreach Efforts • Reporting Structure • Constraints & Challenges • Collaboration/Merger Proposal 98 WASHINGTON STREET, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 ♦ TEL: 978.745.9595 FAX: 978.740.0404 ♦ WWW.SALEM.COM  ▪ Recycling is a lot of what they do, but there is “reduce, refuse, repair,” etc. ▪ Lots of events and education beyond recycling: Repair Café, Book Swap ▪ Urgency for bold action in face of climate crisis – want to go beyond events and education ▪ Feels too “siloed.” SRD Department needs to be agile, versatile, broad reaching. SalemRecycles does more than waste management. Engineering is critical to how the City runs but does not have capacity/ability to focus on Recycling Committee work ▪ More room for collaboration/a merger ▪ Advocating for name change? RRR Committee? But everyone knows/recognizes “SalemRecycles” • Doug Bowker surprised that the idea of a merger has not come up before. But purview falls within “Sustainability.” SalemRecycles for years had a specific mandate, but has gone beyond that • Salem Recycles: Education and Outreach is their thing, “get it done,” SERC is more casual • Chris Cantone: Look into this while Depts are in flux. We cannot merge committees under the Ordinance as it is today (limit of 7 members) • John Hayes: Bonnie and Carol did not come to join SERC (committee) but to be under the purview of SRD (the Sustainability Department) • Discussion of how to move forward • Steve Kapantais, 23 Wisteria St., Thanks SalemRecycles for their presentation and their outreach. Would like to see SERC report to Mayor: when trash/recycling changes happen (like no more black plastic recycled or textiles allowed to be thrown away), WM is obligated to provide notifications to residents, but the City does not make them do it. Instead, it relies on SalemRecycles, which is understaffed and underfunded, and the City needs to do a better job of informing residents • Canada banning black plastics, other states and countries moving forward ▪ John Hayes notes Jeff Cohen used to be recycling Coordinator, Steve will reach out to him ▪ This is a valid concern, if not subscribed to SalemRecycles newsletter, how will you know? A mailer may be the answer ▪ Steve Kapantais’ company makes cups for Loop program, and he has worked in plastics for 30 years City Updates Outreach Events (Stacy Kilb) • Salem United Negro Election Day Holiday Celebration 7/16 Other updates (Stacy Kilb) • SRD Director position open, John as SERC chair would like to be involved in Director selection after short list is established, waiting on response from Esmeralda. John has flexibility until Labor Day. Stacy to remind Esmeralda to respond to John. 98 WASHINGTON STREET, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 ♦ TEL: 978.745.9595 FAX: 978.740.0404 ♦ WWW.SALEM.COM New Business Discuss changes to SERC membership • Gail has stepped down as vice chair for personal and health reasons; Erin Casey will be the new SERC member after her 2nd confirmation hearing at the September City Council meeting • Rick Nye motions to nominate Chris Cantone as Vice Chair; Chris accepts the nomination, which is seconded by Doug Bowker and passes 4-0 in a roll call vote. • John Hayes Yes • Rick Nye Yes • Chris Cantone Yes • Doug Bowker Yes Discuss invited speaker for September (no official August meeting – gather at Forest River Park) • John Hayes’s previous presentation on water bills is discussed • We should invite/have speak: • Beverly/Salem Water Board • Salem Engineering/Water Registrar (David Knowlton of Engineering is on the Board) • Erin Casey representing IRWA August Event Planning Subcommittee Report • Where: Possible issues with Forest River Community Room; that space and Willows pavilion have both been reserved • Pizza money request, no response yet ▪ May need to establish SERC revolving fund • Invite other committees and council members. ▪ Stacy to follow up with Subcommittee to approve short list • If no funding for pizzas, what do we do? • Does the committee currently have any funding and if so, where? Stacy to research if SERC has funds/an account and how to pay for items • If held in Willows, can invite everyone, people can get food on their own at eateries Review & Approve Meeting Minutes – May 25, 2022 and June 22, 2022 A motion to approve both sets of minutes is made by Doug Bowker, seconded by Chris Cantone, and passes unanimously, 4-0. Upcoming City Committee Meetings • Recycling Committee: First Tuesday of the month, 8/2/22, 6:30-7:30PM ▪ August Meeting Cancelled • Tree Commission: Third Monday of the month, 8/15/22, 6:00PM • Conservation Commission: Third Tuesday of the month, 8/16/22, 6:30PM 98 WASHINGTON STREET, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 ♦ TEL: 978.745.9595 FAX: 978.740.0404 ♦ WWW.SALEM.COM Upcoming Events • Community First Partnership (CFP) – Salem working with HomeWorks Energy (HWE) on Beverly/Salem Energy Challenge, to get 2000 sign ups for Home Energy Assessments, 750 weatherization projects completed, and 250 heat pumps installed over the next 1-3 years. HomeWorks and SRD table at events together, SRD tables on its own as well • HomeWorks to begin canvassing in Salem soon; has permit from Police Dept. (Determined it was still needed even though HEAs are “no cost”) • Salem Heritage Days: Week of August 1st. SRD and HWE will table at: o Safety Day Tues. 8/2 from 4-7PM o Ice Scream Bowl Wed. 8/3 from 6-8pm • Serve Up Savings Restaurant canvassing to continue Thurs. 8/4 Next SERC Meeting - Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at 6:30PM* *Reminder: The August SERC meeting is cancelled, but an event is being held at [either Forest River Park or the Willows] in its stead Adjournment A motion to adjourn is made by Rick Nye, seconded by Doug Bowker, and passes unanimously, 4-0. The meeting ends at 7:58 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Stacy Kilb Clerk, Sustainability, Energy and Resiliency Committee 98 WASHINGTON STREET, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 ♦ TEL: 978.745.9595 FAX: 978.740.0404 ♦ WWW.SALEM.COM