GREENER HOPKINTON
MINUTES
Thursday, February 21, 2008, Community Room, Hopkinton Town Library
Present: Mary Leadbeater, Will Hastings, Diane Hastings, Deb Augustine, Caroline Durr, Brian Bickford, Susan Covert, Jack Ruderman, Bethann McCarthy, Liane Kerbyson, Janet Ward
-Greener Hopkinton welcomed volunteers from our Strategic Planning Session.
-Minutes of our January 10, 2008 meeting were approved.
-News from the RECYCLING COMMITTEE: Mary Leadbeater reported that recycling bin order forms are now available and will be displayed on voting day, and at town and school meeting. The Committee’s educational brochure is being updated. A draft will be circulated to GH members for review. Mary noted that at a recent Landfill Committee meeting chaired by Peter Russell, an increase of tipping fees was not approved by Webster. Cooperative tipping fees are due to increase from 15 – 20%. By 2010 tipping fees will reach $65 per ton and this does not include transportation costs. Increased recycling will lead to a reduction in trash and the fees that must be paid to the Cooperative. The Recycling Committee will develop a draft of an action plan for review by the Greener Hopkinton Steering Committee.
Our response to this action plan will be shared with the Board of Selectmen.
-Update on ENERGY AUDIT: Brian Bickford reported that the energy audit is underway and that John Boatwright and Don Houston had provided about fifteen months worth of data. A follow-up meeting is scheduled. Janet was directed to contact Dick Henry of the Jordan Institute to get advice on what action might be implemented and when, given the progress we have made in collecting baseline information on energy use to date.
-CANVAS BAG SALES: Carol Cleary explained that Lori Aubertin is having her students at Maple Street School use GH Canvas Bag Sales as an exercise in mathematics. Bags are also being offered for sale at Bella and Rusty’s and will be available on voting day, and at Town and School Meeting. Susan Covert will circulate a request for volunteers to staff the sales tables at these events.
-NEIGHBORHOOD GREENER HOPKINTON HOUSE PARTIES: Caroline Durr reported on a recent meeting at her home where plans for House Parties were developed. The objective is to identify neighborhoods where individuals could host parties at which GH presentations could introduce the objectives and projects of GH. Neighborhoods could then develop their own distinctive on-going sustainability strategies. These individual efforts will be supported by GH through the scheduling of speakers on topics of common interest, as well as other appropriate activities. A key component of the planning for house parties was the recommendation that a monthly GH E-NEWSLETTER be developed. The e-newsletter could be used to encourage attendance at neighborhood house parties. Caroline and Diane explained the need for
technical expertise which Bethann volunteered to research. Diane and Risa Evans are interested in serving as editors of the e-newsletter.
-HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: Will Durr offered to explore the idea of an Outing Club at the High School. He will discuss this possibility with Mr. Semmons and Mr. Nadeau. In addition, Will will discuss the challenge of replacing disposable styrofoam trays with re-useable trays in the cafeteria with the Interact Club and the Environmental Club.
-CARPOOLING: Janet reported that Laura Marron had contacted her with information from the NH Rideshare Program. Susan Covert volunteered to share this information with her extensive email lists. Janet was directed to contact the director of the NH Rideshare Program Joan Clinton for display materials for Voting Day, Town and School Meeting.
-Letterhead Logo: The Committee asked Janet to ask Jay Spahr, the Hopkinton HS student who designed our canvas bag turtle, to design an appropriate GH letterhead.
-ECO-FAIR keynote speaker: Janet reported that Gary Hirshberg was willing to speak in Hopkinton. The Committee approved extending an invitation to Gary to serve as our Eco-Fair keynote speaker.
-METHANE AT LANDFILL: Bethann told the Committee that her research indicated that there is not enough methane at our landfill to produce energy.
-LIBRARY DISPLAY: Bethann has arranged to have a GH display at the Library for the month of April.
-NEXT MEETING: THURSDAY, MARCH 13, AT 6:30 pm IN THE BROCKWAY ROOM.
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