Minutes: 11 May 2021

Attending:  Sue Jick (facilitator), Kim Kastens (notetaking), Debra Simes, Danny Factor,  Jim Snyder-Grant, Mike Boss, Debby Andell, Carolyn Platt, Chris Edwards, Rob Gogan, Nyana Tobin, Heather  Haines, Matt Leibman, Terra Friedrichs

• Committee reports: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P1Tlmq_n4PFxGnfikHhvGGNYVkd29JBB/view?usp=sharing

Land Use

Have been working on preserving shade trees on public land. Paper was reviewed by a number of committees and recently, at a Select Board meeting, Dean Charter mentioned Green Acton’s work. The Town decided to up the fine that will be paid for a tree that is “destroyed” by developers during construction projects; amount was $3,000–$5,000 per tree and now has at least tripled. LUC is asking that each public shade tree be identified when construction begins. LUC will continue working on the larger issue of preserving trees on private lands.

Elm St. project was approved and the committee will be doing an evaluation of anything (beyond issuing its public statement encouraging denial of the permit) that Green Acton might have done to prevent that project from moving forward. Looking at 47 Conant St. for some concerns, specifically about wetlands; the committee will have a draft statement about this project for the next meeting.

Energy

We gave the APC Green slide show on April 29; soon it will be available on ActonTV’s YouTube channel, and links to it will appear on multiple social media platforms and websites. It presents an overview of Acton Power Choice, focuses on the importance of opting up to APC GREEN, answers questions about the program.

Water

Meetings:  

• So as not to meet on Mothers’ Day, the Water Committee postponed our May meeting until Sunday May 16, 2:30-4:30, on the Green Acton zoom link. All are welcome.

Drought:

• As of April 1, the northeast section of Massachusetts, which includes Acton, is no longer in drought status, according to the Massachusetts Drought Management Task Force, see https://www.mass.gov/info-details/drought-status. However, the AWD will not be relaxing its outdoor watering restrictions, because the district is still struggling with PFAS and some sources are offline (announced at AWD Commissioners’ meeting May 10). 

Acton Water District Annual Meeting:

• The Acton Water District held its annual district meeting (analogous to Town Meeting) at District headquarters on Wednesday, May 5. The warrant is at:  https://www.actonwater.com/assets/media/documents/2021%20Warrant%20Articles.pdf. Two significant issues were raised from the floor, both by members of the Water Committee (although speaking as private citizens): 
• Norm Strahle introduced an amendment to require that before making a purchasing decision to replace a pickup and SUV, the AWD do a Total Cost of Ownership analysis to compare the cost of electric or hybrid vehicles with the gas or diesel vehicles planned. After discussion, a simplified version of the amendment passed unanimously. 
• Two articles requested authorization to spend money from the WR Grace stabilization fund: first, a standard annual request to spend $125K for replacement of filters and other routine maintenance of the treatment plants, and second, a one-time request to spend up to $1M to bring the Assabet 3 well on line to allow the blending of low-PFAS water into the South Acton Water Treatment Plant. Kim Kastens suggested that in future years, the WR Grace fund not be used for routine maintenance costs, but rather, be saved for expensive, unanticipated water quality problems such as this year’s PFAS problems. 

Suggestion to Energy Committee:

• Water Committee suggests that Energy Committee bring a citizens’ petition article to the next AWD Annual District Meeting or Special District Meeting asking that the District consider energy efficiency in all their operations, using text like that used for the similar citizens’ petition article at Acton Town Meeting. 

Collaborate with OARS on conductivity measurements in Assabet Tributaries? 

• OARS (the Organization for the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord Rivers) is adding a new component to their water quality monitoring program. They would like to do a one-time reconnaissance measurement of conductivity along the length of all of the tributaries in the watershed. Conductivity is a quick and easy measurement that can detect inorganic contaminants, notably road salt. The measurement is made with an electronic probe lowered into the water and takes a few minutes. Two Water Committee members are already trained on the use of OARS’ instrumentation. At our next meeting, the Water Committee will be discussing whether we would like to take on making these measurements along the Nashoba Brook and/or Fort Pond Brook systems. 

Nagog Pond

• Construction continues on the new, longer intake pipe on Nagog Pond, to serve Concord’s Nagog water treatment plant. A webpost describing this activity is up on the Green Acton website at:  https://greenacton.org/2021/05/05/what-is-happening-in-the-ne-corner-of-nagog-pond/

Central Acton Water Treatment Plant

• The CAWTP is on track to begin treating water in mid-July (ahead of schedule), although final permitting will likely be later. Here is a recent photo of the main filtration system (as presented at the AWD Commissioners meeting May 10.)
  

• New well appears to have lower PFAS levels.
• Even though we have moved out of high drought, Acton Water District is keeping the water use restrictions because the Water District isn’t able to use all of its wells.
• Idea to have a joint working group to strategize about longer term plans to deal with PFAS in town and also to think about other water use issues like town capacity given water capacity

Plastics

Peter Berry, Caroline Tripp, Lees Stuntz, and Carolyn Platt continue drafting polystyrene and single-use plastic reduction bylaw.

Materials

Talked about extended producer responsibility in recent meeting.

Acton Climate Coalition

BuildingWithCleanEnergy.org site has been launched; other aspects of the campaign for the two BCE warrant articles continues in the run-up to the June 21 Town Meeting.

WR Grace

Some members went out with a rep from WR Grace and some folks from Nashoba Greenway Working Group (bike planners to understand how people can get around on bicycles and on foot) to explore the concept of using the land as a way of connecting the two rail trails — Assabet and Bruce Freeman. WR Grace gave permission and the group looked at old trails on the property that might have potential for use.

WR Grace working group is suffering from “leadership challenges” — members of the group are “stretched thin.” Might want to think about whether there are folks who are interested in finding a place for their energy in Green Acton. Anyone interested can contact Jim Snyder-Grant or Kim Katsen about the work.

• Questions + responses / open mic / comments & queries

Jane notes that there is a bit of overlap between various committees in town; are there collaborations between these groups, such as Mothers Out Front and Acton Conservation Trust (ACT). Danny reports that they have connected with ACT about legal ways to preserve land that we have. Danny suggests that we have some “official liaisons” to these other groups eventually to increase lines of communication. Danny suggests that LUC should move that collaboration up on its agenda.

Terra would also be interested in connecting with Acton Conservation Trust. How can we preserve land in various parts of town?

Jm and Debra are both also reps for the Acton Climate Coalition, which comprises 38 member groups, including ACT, Mothers Out Front, and many other groups.

Kim notes that two of the water committee members are part of OARS and the committee is currently discussing whether they want to take on a new project with OARS. Also a member of the water committee is a conservation commissioner. There is also a water commissioner who regularly attends the water committee meetings.  

• Update from the Acton Climate Coalition: potential climate-related benefits for renters; info sharing and feedback

Jim notes that the original climate declaration work has allowed them to meet with some folks (from the national Climate Mobilization organization) to think, beyond general strategies around emissions reductions, about how we can we support renters or folks living in multifamily housing in the work and the benefits of the transition to a clean(er) energy economy. Ideas include advocacy for:

• Mass Save audits in multifamily houses
• public transportation
• walkability of Great Road
• composting and recycling for renters
  

Let Jim know if you want to be added to the mailing list for this effort. Danny notes that renters are part of the most underserved populations in Acton, and can think about the connections between economics and environment.

• Event/action announcements

   > July GA meeting outdoors? 

Admin talked about trying to have the July Meeting outdoors. Will think about the Acton Arboretum (bring your own chair). Sue (our resident epidemiologist) notes that all evidence is that being outside is incredibly safe. Very little transmission happening in outdoor spaces that aren’t crowded.

   > Town Meeting on June 21st

• Jim shared a list of draft warrant articles via email. Admin asks that committees review the warrant articles, send info on any proposed positions to directors soon for discussion and decisions at the June GA meeting.

The town has an opportunity to enter into a contract (with the solar contractor who will install the huge solar array on the WR Grace site) for what’s called a Low Income Community Solar System. This would allow qualified residents to have their electricity bills reduced via a low-income subsidy. This contract would represent a 20-year commitment on the part of the town, which means that Town Meeting needs to consent to this; the Town would incur some cost to participate in the program.

Norm asked if Jim will send out an update to the warrant article to the doc – Guess that there will be an update before the May 17th Select Board Meeting – Norm wondered about listing of properties to be sold

   > Matt about Bioblitz: April 30–May 3

• Held kickoff event on April 26
• Had more than 60 people become members of the project on iNaturalist
• Outcomes: 1,216 observations, 479 species, 42 observers; Frann Addison logged the highest number of observations; Rob Grogan was 2nd; Becky Harris was 4th  
• Many observations in West Acton and in many of the conservation lands
  

   > Town Parks grant application: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r9w-AelqqjaNvEtSRtuvvAE2c-Y4iR4T/view The project would look at the status of the park areas in town, at drawbacks and opportunities. Funds perhaps to be spent on dog park and perhaps a climate ready park. Admin asks that directors review the document and think about whether we want to write a letter of support; would need the letter by May 21. Admin will contact directors on this.

   > NB: committee review of Town Meeting warrant articles and relevant comments should happen well before June GA meeting

TRANSITION (checkout for those leaving)

ADMIN Matters:

• Social Media Proposal discussion, potential approval

Social Media Policy draft: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y7damkvIJZJ7TJbA6e3Z9WSlb77FiI0lB3n7S-3Qfr4/edit

Jim: We have had three discussions about the policy, including how to include back-and-forth discussions, ensure we aren’t promoting things that aren’t true or illegitimate sources of information. Communications Committee would be doing the posting; posts would have a heading that describes the nature of the post. Green Acton members can comment on these posts in social media platforms. Items posted on website will automatically become posts on our social media sites.

If the poster has concerns about the content of a proposed post, consult with a GA Committee (or member) that may have expertise on the content before posting.

• Debra is concerned about running the posts by committees; first level of guidance would be the documents that committees and the group as a whole; if there was a concern about the post, would consult with others (esp. relevant committees). Debra is concerned that a committee could just veto a post because of its thinking on a subject, even if across GA directors there might be a broad range of opinion about the topic.   
• Terra shared that growth, construction, and other terms are very complicated topics for her and she is concerned about messages getting posed that might not match our hopes; concerned about promoting growth since we need to think about limiting. Terra suggests that we give this a try and see how things go.
• Sue suggests that we consider how this goes going forward and we can think more about what types of issues should go before LUC.
• Debra suggests we adopt what we have: give it a try for three months, ask people to bring forward concerns during that time period, and then come back to think about any issues or problems at the end of that period.
• Terra said that sounds good to her.
• Jim also says that sounds fine; check back in about this in the mid-Fall
• Debra notes that the goal is to to find a balance: to have a robust social media presence, we need more posts on social media AND must ensure that the posts we do make aren’t “inappropriate” re: our mission. 
• Danny is unsure why posts that reference some of the work that is integral to the work of a committee wouldn’t be run by that committee before they get posted. Wondering about posts that have been made by Green Acton that reference things that Green Acton hasn’t created a position on.  
• Debra says that she (as current Communications Committee) would certainly bring it to committees if content was “getting out ahead of” what Green Acton had already discussed.
• Danny is willing to give this a try.
• Unanimous consent on the policy; Sue notes that this is a living document and changes can be made.
• GA people should put suggested content (text + visuals) for social media posts in this document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OmLV6CcO8rvelxPmSch4v12H7JhDE6kROONnYQavusI/edit  OR send to: SocialMediaPosts@greenacton.org
• If you are active on social media be sure to interact with GA’s Facebook and Twitter accounts!
  

• Checkout

Drew wonders if there are any volunteer opportunities with the potential WR Grace bike path. Jim says that this is in its very early stages; he will include Drew on the write up of the report on the most recent visit

Norm asked about the trail. Jim: the intent of the trail is to connect to Bruce Freeman trail from Assabet (on River St.) to get to Parker, and on to Concord; talked about different options that could keep it off of some more challenging streets. Nashoba Regional Greenway meets regularly to talk about ways to make biking more accessible in the region.

Kim recommends that the Energy Committee consider bringing a citizens article to the next meeting and think there may be a Acton Water District meeting in the Fall. That’s not a sure thing, so might be timely to do that.

Kudos to Norm for bringing an amendment, to the Acton Water District Annual Meeting, to consider purchasing electric vehicles for its fleet in the future.