Recycling and Renewable Energy Committee

Minutes from 3 Oct. 07, Town Hall, 6-7:20pm

 

Attending:  Mike Leger, Ghee Patrick, Lee Bartell, Jim Denietolis, Amy Germain, Conny Hatch

 

Minutes:  Approved as written

 

Beautifying the Transfer Station:  Ghee will follow up with Barbara Rushmore about planting trees.  Sandy told Lee that 36 was too many arrows, so Lee will work a new number out with her.  We all agree that adding some color to the drive up the hill can only help bring smiles to people, and maybe they'll talk to others, and that's good.

 

The Banner:  Lee will talk with Sally Rose, publisher, about a weekly paragraph, box, something about recycling, maybe "Did you know that. . .?"  Each week, it could be another fact about the town and its recycling success.  Conny, who used to work at the Banner, said that "fillers" are short paragraphs that fill in a column here and there, and that perhaps we could do something like that.  She also said that whatever we do, we need to keep it happy, clear, upbeat, no guilt trips about not recycling enough, etc.   Lee will also ask about getting an article with photo for the Certificate presentation.

 

Cape Paper Recycling Campaign:  Edith DeMello, from MA DEP, is having a meeting in Yarmouth on the 18th, to help coordinate the Nov. 15th Campaign; Jim will attend, Mike maybe.  Lee wants to know if there's any mention of using the other side of paper, so that both sides are used, or if a side is blank, cut it for using as notepads.

 

Municipal Sustainable Grant:  It was submitted.  Now we wait and see what we get.

 

Hull's Windmills:  Mike went to Hull to see the windmills, and to learn more about them.  Hull has its own power company, which makes things much easier.  Ghee had a Cape Cod Times letter-to-the-editor, written by Chris Kealey, Director of Public Affairs for Massachusetts Technical Collaborative in Westboro, stating that they have a ton of info, and are eager to help, in alternative energy.  We hope to pass their name onto our Selectboard.

 

The Green Team:  Mike met with the Supt. of Schools, Jessica Waugh, to discuss recycling, and see how the school may implement the Green Team's info.  She passed the info onto John Hamlon, Science teacher.  Jim mentioned how someone from the school system recently came to the Transfer Station to get 50 recycling bins.  Cool.  Mike said that John Hamlon said that he'd get back in touch with Mike soon, so Mike will report back to us what happens.  www.thegreenteam.org

 

Please solicit recycling forms from other places:  Then bring them to our meetings.

 

Certificates of Merit:  Amy wants to see the Selectboard give them out, thinking that there'll be more clout with them doing it.  Ghee mentioned that with the Beautification Committee, their photo in the paper was great publicity, so she feels that we could do it with a press contingent present.  Mike will talk to Pam Parmakian about getting this onto the Selectboard's calendar for a Monday meeting.

 

Town Hall:  More recycling bins, for paper, are needed.  Ideally, one next to each trash can.

 

Paperless in Town Hall:  The idea is that more and more committee meetings, minutes, applications, issues, documentations, licenses, etc., can all be online.  Both Brian Carlson, Health, and Matt Mulvey, Building Comm., want to go this route.  Amy would still like to pursue this, after hours, so she'll see if she can arrange a meeting after she gets back to town around 6-6:30pm.  How much paper is used in Town Hall?  How much of it is recycled paper? Recycled paper towel and toilet tissue in the washrooms?  It would be wonderful if Town Hall were setting an example.

 

Conny is joining us:  Amy went and got her an application, so now it's just a matter of a little time and swearing in.  Welcome Conny!

 

Transfer Station:  The wood dumpster costs us to get rid of it, and we pay a mileage cost.  For the scrap metal,  we get a few cents each ton.  Daniels picks up both of these.

 

Swap Shop:  Volunteers run it, senior citizens get a tax abatement if they work there.  We desperately want to spruce it up.  Lee will find out if the items that are donated can be left there for a longer time, before being dumped into the hopper.  When the shelves are nearly bare, it's not inviting.  They need to look full, or at least, fuller.  Lee will also check with Ruthie's, to see if they'll pass on to us any housewares, etc.  Maybe John Hamlon or Lisa Fox, the Art teacher, may bring kids over to give us ideas for fixing it up.

 

Monthly Meeting Times:  We decided to make our meetings be the 2nd Wednesday of the month.  Since we had this meeting the first Wednesday, our next meeting will NOT be next week, rather in 5 weeks.

 

Next Meeting Topics:  Windmill sites, long and short term goals, any ideas, other recycling info, you-get-it.

 

Next Meeting:  Wednesday, 14 Nov. 07, Town Hall, 6pm.

 

Minutes submitted by Lee

 

Lee Bartell
9
Seashore Park Drive
Provincetown, MA 02657

508-487-8838
cell 508-237-6111
capewoman@cape.com