Recycling and Renewable Energy Committee

Minutes from 4 June 08, 5-6:45pm, Town Hall, Provincetown

Attending:  Amy Germain, Mike Leger, Lee Bartell, Connie Black, Ghee Patrick, Jane Donoghue, David Gardner

Preceding Minutes:  Amy moved to accept the minutes as corrected, Mike seconded, 6/0.

PTV:  Lee reported that Catherine Russo will let us know when her show on Jeff Rogers' home will be aired on Ch. 17.  Once the plover chicks are gone, we'll schedule a trip to Race Point wind turbine with her.

Board of Health Mailing:  Unfortunately, the letter just didn't get across how it saves us money to recycle, and how it's also the law, not to throw recyclable items into the trash.  Also, there's at least one mistake in it.  In the town regulations on recycling, it only lists plastic #2.  That was the only one we saw looking quickly, so our homework is to look at the recycling regulations online and bring any corrections/suggestions/etc. to our next meeting.  It was agreed that if there's a by-law that mandates residential recycling, it makes it much easier to sell the message, for recycling compliance.  If it already exists, then we need to see that it's enforced.  The Board of Health may update regulations as per our recommendations.

Fluorescent Bulbs: They are accepted at the Transfer Station, and places in one of the sheds. 

Integrated Paper Recyclers: Christine DeRosa is their Provincetown rep, and she will meet Mike and any other members available at the Transfer Station on Wednesday, 11 June, at 1pm.  We're hoping to get a report on how we're doing, what's working and what's not, get some financial figures to see how it's working for the town.

DPW Office:  Jim Denietolis no longer works there, so we lose him as our liaison, and Sandy loses him as her full-time assistant.  Good luck in your new work Jim.

New Recycling Cans:  We're about to receive 3 double sets (they have vertical signage saying recycling/trash) and 6 open wire cans, made by prisoners, which we agree must be placed next to a lone trash can.  One more homework assignment, choose 3 locations for these attractive double sets, and email your choices to Mike, maleger@verizon.net. 

Maushope:  They're about to be on board, with trash and recycling pick up.  Good news!

Council on Aging:  Mike will give a recycling talk on Thursday, 19 June, at 1pm.

Website Redesign:  Lee will work on this with Beau Jackett.

FAA/MAC:  Mike had some paperwork from the FAA/MAA airspace review, but we didn't discuss it.

Viewsheds:  Land Based Wind Energy Placement Consideration is what David Gardner gave us a presentation on, what the National Seashore and Truro, Wellfleet and Eastham have done so far re: wind turbines.  They identified commercially zoned areas, historic areas, within Seashore, within towns, and each town did it their way.

Now it's Provincetown's turn, and our survey is a compelling mandate for wind energy, and where to put it.  Over 90% of responders said YES, and put them at #1. Transfer Station; #2. Waste Water Treatment; #3. Rt. 6 median, #4. Mt. Gilboa.  Going through a public process (our survey helped) is just part of the procedure.  David asked us, "How do we want to proceed?"  We can help create a proposal which will go to the Seashore.  David will bring a draft of one to our next meeting.  Ghee suggested placing them in water, some section of our coast where there will not be access to the public.  One more homework consideration is to come up with our top 3 places for locating the wind turbines, and their size is not relevant yet.

Plastic Bags:  Connie will report on this next meeting.

Cape & Vineyard Electric Cooperative:  Meghan Downey said that lawyers are working out the details, and she'll get back to us when they're done. 

Next Meeting:  Wednesday, 2 July, 5pm, Town Hall

Minutes by Lee

Lee Bartell
9 Seashore Park Drive
Provincetown, MA 02657
508-487-8838
capewoman@cape.com

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