TOWN OF MANSFIELD

Sustainability Committee

Minutes of the Meeting

August 26, 2009

Present:  Stoddard, Lennon, Ryan, Miller, Hart, Hultgren, Walton

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m.

The June 23, 2009 minutes and July 22, 2009 minutes were reviewed and accepted.

Walton reported that she attended an introductory regional meeting of clean energy task forces on August 12, 2009 that was arranged by the CT Clean Energy Fund. Several neighboring communities were represented. There was interest among the attendees to work on not only clean energy, but sustainability projects collaboratively. It is anticipated that there will be future meetings.

The Mansfield Clean Energy Team will be hosting a $500 Energy Challenge. Walton distributed the flyers. The challenge is directed toward reducing residential electrical energy use. The start of the challenge begins with the kick-off meeting on October 27, 2009 and ends with May and June 2010’s electric bills. May and June 2009 and 2010’s bills will be compared to determine the two household winners. Hart suggested that the contest be reconfigured to include college students. Miller reported that UConn holds an Eco Madness dorm contest every fall to encourage water and electric conservation. Stoddard suggested that Eco Madness include off-campus housing.

Walton reported that she would be doing some educational work on vehicle idling this fall as part of the EPA Clean School Bus USA grant by attending the Know Your Town Fair and school open houses with a Spin the Wheel Game. The next step in the grant is to purchase filter cleaning vouchers for the buses that have been retrofit with diesel particulate filters.

Hart distributed the introduction of Asheville, NC’s sustainability plan. Staff was directed to begin organizing the action steps from Mansfield’s strategic plan sustainability vision points into the categories that Asheville has established. To help prioritize high, medium and low actions, Miller suggested adding cost, potential to reduce greenhouse gases, return on investment and time frame columns to each action. The work study student will be assigned to gathering baseline energy information from the town buildings and compare what small university towns are doing, such as Amherst, MA and Hanover, NH. Stoddard stated that at the end of October, the Governor’s Steering Committee on Climate Change would be unveiling its guidance on what the State of CT would like municipalities to be focusing on.

Hultgren and Walton diagramed the Town committees and departments that deal with sustainability issues as the Sustainability Committee will likely be interfacing with them all at some point.

Public Works Dept. – Transportation Advisory Committee, Clean Energy Team, Solid Waste Advisory Committee

Parks and Recreation Dept. – Open Space Committee, Agriculture Committee, Parks Advisory Committee

Planning & Zoning Dept. – Planning and Zoning Commission, Inland Wetlands Commission, Conservation Commission

Economic Development – Downtown Partnership, Four Corners Sewer Study Advisory Committee

Board of Education Dept – Board of Education

As a first step, it was suggested that Town staff be trained in sustainable office practices. UConn has successfully done this and Miller will see if the sustainability coordinator at UConn can facilitate a train the trainer class for Town staff.

Miller gave an update on UConn’s latest sustainability projects.  On September 2 at 1 pm, there will be a green roof dedication on Gant Plaza. The first green parking lot, make of porous concrete, should be ready for use this weekend. The parking lot is in front of the Field house building.

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 7:00, in conference room B. Agenda items include a progress report on the action plan, the work study student, and the maintenance department’s  sustainable initiatives. Walton will invite the Director of Maintenance to the next meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Virginia Walton

Recycling/Refuse Coordinator

Cc: Lon R. Hultgren, Director of Public Works, Members, file, Town Manager, Town Clerk