GREENER HOPKINTON
MINUTES
Thursday, March 13, 2008, 6:30 PM, Hopkinton Town Library
Present: Debbie Augustine, Liz Corrigan, Don Lane, Janet Ward, Lori Aubertin, Roland Dubois, Will Hastings, Diane Hastings, Caroline Durr, Risa Evans, Bethann McCarthy, David Luneau
-Minutes of February 21, 2008 meeting were accepted.
-Special Guests: Joan Clinton, NH Rideshare (NH Department of Transportation) and Craig Tufts, Central NH Regional Planning Commission, shared information about energy savings through shared transportation either through carpooling, van use or public transportation. Joan noted the success of the fifteen year old Upper Valley Rideshare program and of the town of Belmont’s locally initiated rideshare program. Joan agreed to share brochures and posters for distribution and display at Town Meeting and other venues. How Hopkinton can assist NH Rideshare: promote program; booth at Eco-Fair; encourage “work site counseling where program can be encouraged at places where there is a concentration of workers/single car drivers; encourage preferential parking, rewards for carpoolers. Joan also said that NH
Rideshare could put interested parties of ten or more in touch with VPSI, a private van service. Craig explained the efforts of the Commission to identify major employers, map areas where park and ride sites can be located, contact businesses to encourage park and ride program, encourage local use of parking lots at churches, etc. (Local, grassroots efforts to secure parking at such sites is needed.) The Commission’s Concord regional effort will soon be linked to an upgraded NH Rideshare site.
Janet was directed to contact Concord Area Transit to explore the possibility of a pilot Hopkinton/Concord bus link. Craig informed us that, according to a 2000 study, about 1100 people commute daily from Hopkinton to Concord. A good portion of those commuters would have to ride the bus to make it economically successful. Don noted that a town-owned and operated Hopkinton/Concord van might be feasible at some point in the future.
-Canvas Bag Sales at Town Meeting: Risa and Diane volunteered to staff the canvas bag sale table from 10 – 12 to assist Susan and Mary who will cover the 8 – 10 shift.
-Lori Aubertin reported that 30 canvas bags were sold at the HMS and MSS. Lori has volunteered to continue this sales effort.
-In a discussion about recyling at the Slusser Center, Don suggested that Deb check with Justin, the director, to clarify arrangements for recycling once the lower level is made available for public use. Debbie reported that the Recycling Committee will circulate a petition suggesting a pilot satellite recycling center be established at public works road. With sufficient public interest, such a pilot effort might prove successful and improve the town’s recycling rate.
-Jim reported that the Energy Audit of the town’s eleven municipal buildings should be completed within a month or so, at which point the Jordan Institute could be invited to review the results and make recommendations for energy saving measures. The Jordan Institute’s suggestions will be presented at a public forum to be arranged by Greener Hopkinton.
David reminded the Committee that the Strategic Planning Session included a recommendation for an Energy Challenge, a competition to improve energy savings. The Committee agreed that such a Challenge would be an effective and fun way to change behavior, a critical objective. The proposed eNewsletter and GH House Parties could be used to implement such a challenge.
-Diane, Risa and Caroline shared progress on the GH eNewsletter: Diane noted that education is a critical component in reducing our town’s carbon footprint. The cost of establishing an eNewsletter using Constant Contact [2500 email addresses for one year] would cost $252 annually. Janet was directed to contact Steve Clough to ask permission to use this amount from the recycling revolving fund. Diane also noted that we need a logo, and a way to build an emailing list. David advised the Committee to ask the Superintendent to include an invitation to recipients of the school emailings to sign up to receive GH’s enewsletter. Janet will submit this request. We will also ask permission to issue this invitation to recipients of other town emailing lists, and we will contact Sandy Babson
to discuss making the GH link on the town website as timely, interesting and useful as possible. An eNewsletter and House Party subcommittee meeting will be scheduled to finalize plans for both prior to the next GH meeting.
David suggested a GH blog to keep conversation about important sustainability issues constant and dynamic.
-Bethann asked for assistance in preparing a GH Earth Day display in the case at the Library. Several suggestions for appropriate items were shared including Don Lane’s recommendation that Mark Lane’s eco-themed T-shirts be displayed. Janet suggested a profile of Mark’s environmental concerns be included. NH Rideshare material will be included. Liz volunteered to help with setting up the display.
-Janet asked that those interested in helping organize the ECO-Fair contact her asap.
-Don asked for assistance in setting up a forum for a speaker form the Northeast Recycling Committee on June 2, 5 – 7 PM. Debbie volunteered help from the Recycling Committee.
-Will reported that Steve Chamberlin, at Will’s request, has instituted a 2-week trial in the cafeteria during Junior High lunches. Only re-useable plastic trays instead of styrofoam will be used. Will will report on results of this program. Will also shared news about grants to pay for replacement of bike racks and a possible shed to house bike helmets and other gear.
-NEXT MEETING: Thursday, April 10, at 6:30 PM at the Hopkinton Library.
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