HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-02 NASC Minutes 1
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NORTHANDOVER
5ustainability Committee
Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Location: Town Hall
1. Attendees:
a. Joanna O'Connell
b. Kevin Craig
c. Shoba Donti
d. Madhu Dhar
e. Vishvesh Dhar
f. Julie Ross
g. Jess Pimentel
h. Alvin Pimentel
2. Introduction from all members and guests
3. Minutes from March 5, 2019 meeting approved.
4. School Recycling Updates
a. Grant received to starting composting at Middle School and Thomson. Will start
with these two schools this year and hopefully expand to other schools next
year.
b. We have contracted with Black Earth composting for 10 weeks to support this
effort
c. Some compost will be used in school gardens
5. Town Composting. Dhruti and Pranali Ashara, NA residents presented options a & b
below.
a. Black Earth-$100/yr and requires 300 residents to sign up. 13 gallon bins
b. Quarry facility in Charlestown run by Waste Mgmt. Converts compost into a
slurry,transported back to Greater Lawrence and converted to energy. Pricing
not clear.
c. 3r'option currently available and used already by some NA residents: Offbeats.
$20/month. 5 gallon bin.
d. Jess into working with Black Earth to have 3 community compost bins.Will need
to work with DPW to identify appropriate locations.
6. Plastic Bag Ban
a. Several nearby towns have passed ban (Haverhill,Tewksbury, Lowell, Reading,
Andover).
b. Process: Present at BOS meeting. If they agree,they can put on warrant for Town
meeting. If not,we can get signatures and put on warrant that way. Deadline has
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passed for articles to be considered for next town meeting.Julie and Adrienne to
draft presentation and present at next NASC meeting.
c. Cambridge calls theirs a "BYOB" ordinance. Focus on the positive vs. negative
aspect of banning something.
7. Town wide cleanup Sunday April 28, 12-4 pm
a. Will have compost bins and water barrels available
b. Promotions for clean up day.Andy finalizing flyer.
c. Contact local business to put up our flyers
d. Shoba to contact Jim at DPW to get smaller gloves
e. Jess&Alvin to check out places that are family friendly and need clean up
f. For our May meeting,Jess to provide sign-up information we get during clean up day
8. Promotion
a. Madhu to establish twitter account for us
b. Devan working on article to get published in local paper re: rain barrels
c. Bags are$2/bag for 500 bags..Will now have sponsor pay shipping as well(about
$80/shipment)
d. Working to schedule next film of Just Eat It at Stevens Library.
e. Solar bench project—Vish still working on it.Will have done by May. Possibility
of having it at Sheep Shearing if it's finished by then.
9. Events
a. Artisan's market—Joanna to follow-up re: our participation
b. Farmer's market.Shoba t check out what dates are available for us to have
booth.
c. Sheep Shearing. May 191h. Deadline is May 4th.Shoba to sign us up.
10. Committee Internal/Administrative:
a. T shirts/sweatshirts—Andy to get us more info
b. Reminder for all to complete their Annual updated Online Ethics Certificate and
Signed Conflict of Interest form.
c. Upcoming meetings: May 7,June 4,July 2,August 6, September 3, October 1,
November 5, December 3
d. Reminder to members to use our Shared Google drive
e. Shoba to Make list of actual active members of committee for Chris
McClure/website
f. Started conversation about need to raise money for the committee.Will talk
more about that at next meeting.
11.Adjournment