Environmental Action Committee Meeting: March 10, 2025

EAC Updates for Review and Discussion at EAC March 2025 Meeting:
Green Communities (CBH)
Selectboard Member Phil Gott has asked Sherry Patch to consider including in the Town Budget
the costs of a central heat pump system to replace an older boiler at the library. Phil asked CBH
to weigh in on whether Green Community Funds might be available to offset costs. CBH advised
as follows:
“First, it’s my understanding that the Town has yet to expend the full Green Community
Designation Grant, but I’m not aware of what available balance remains. Once expended, the
Town may be eligible for a Green Community Competitive Grant.
Second, as I recall, when we were developing the Green Community Designation Application,
we were advised that because of the very long payback period, replacement of the library’s boiler
would likely be ineligible for Green Communities funding. Here, it sounds like you’re not
proposing replacement of the boiler, but rather supplementing it with heat pumps. I recall from
the development of the Designation Application that Heat Pump Air Handling Units proposed
for PMLD were estimated at $30,000 (in 2021) with only a $77 projected annual cost savings
because of the increase in electricity use, thus deeming it likely not competitive for Green
Communities grant funding.
All that being said, time has passed and I’d suggest checking in with Kelly Brown (Green
Communities Central MA Regional Coordinator) to get her thoughts on whether such a project
might be eligible for Green Community funding.”
MVP (CBH)
At the end of February, Town Administrator Sherry Patch was notified that the Town has been
awarded a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program grant in the amount of $100,000 to
complete the MVP Planning 2.0 process. Sherry planned to execute the contract. Presumably a
townwide announcement on the grant, as well as information on next steps will follow soon.
PFAS Information Sharing (FI)
No updates reported.
Communications/Newsletter/Website (CBH) (CG)
Updates still need to be made to the webpage. CG and CBH to schedule time to work on this.
Ann Neuburg (Housing Plan Implementation Committee) has asked for guided help for her and
us from Karen Cruise, and Deb Faucher (Parks & Rec Committee) would also like to be
included. We hope to schedule this relatively soon.
GNB for Winter 2025, on Night Sky Awareness, went out in late February, just before the Night
Sky Fest on March 2.
Next GNB: Pesticides. Authors?
Public Safety Building Committee (CG)
The Committee met on February 19, 2025 with representatives from Caolo & Bienek and
Consulting Engineering Services (a C&B subcontractor), who presented three different HVAC
options for the proposed public safety building. All options were based on electric or geothermal
heating/cooling, with propane generator backup/supplemental heat sources. Committee members
voted to approve the middle option, “a hybrid air to water heat pump plant with supplemental LP
gas fired boiler for heating.” According to C&B, “this option will allow the best blend of
efficiency to meet Massachusetts stretch energy code requirements and simplicity for operation
and maintenance through use of hydronic heating and cooling systems.” Geothermal was by far
the most expensive and complicated option, and no committee members expressed support for it
as presented.
CG has asked the committee chair, Karen Cruise, for a written explanation in layman’s terms for
the committee’s choice, referencing pros and cons that can easily be relayed to interested
members of the public.
Next steps: C&B to update plans, meet with fire and police chiefs on details, finishes, site issues.
No future meeting scheduled yet.
Waste and Recycling Working Group (CG)
Lawyers for Rutland still evaluating the RFP draft for regional hauling for Princeton,
Hubbardston, and Rutland. No meetings scheduled.
Open Space Committee / Nature Walks (FI) (CBH)
So far, the following is the list of nature walks planned for Spring 2025:
• Tom Sullivan and Laura – PLT Boy Scout / EBranch Ware River
• Dot Odgren TPS Nature Trails and Pollinator Garden – June 28th 1-3
• Matt Charpentier and friends – Moth night or Vernal Pools
• Laura – Local History + Geology –May 10/11
• Cindy Dunn and Doug Williams: Stone Walls!
• Bobbye Samdahl: Birding at Four Corners (1) AM, and (2) PM
CBH drafted an information flyer in time to have it available for Winter Carnival. The flyer and
additional information will go out later in spring.
CBH suggested to Rick Gardner that EAC may like to partner with Matt Charpentier for a “Moth
Ball”. Rick suggested EAC reach out to Matt.
Housing Implementation Committee (RB)
No updates reported.
Earth Month Working Group (CG) (CBH)
The Earth Month Committee, which includes CG and CBH, met February 20. Promotion of the
event will begin March 12; RRNews article will appear (with luck) about March 18. The cleanup
will be handled as in previous years: individuals and groups will sign up via email for sections of
road, parks, or trails and will clean up anytime between April 1 and 30. Celebration scheduled
for May 16, 2025 from 5:30 to 7 on the Town Common or in the Congregational Church if
weather is bad, thanks to Joelle Johns, the new pastor.
PMLD
No updates reported.
Hazard Mitigation Plan
CBH continues to serve as EAC representative to the Hazard Mitigation Local Planning Team
(which includes Sherry Patch; Police Chief; Fire Chief; Highway Superintendent; PMLD
Manager; CMRPC Planners). Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday March 11 from 10a – 12p.
Agenda includes review of Community Survey results; final ideas and amendments for Hazard
Mitigation Plan draft; planning for presentation of HMP to public.
OTHER
2d Annual Night Sky Fest
EAC hosted its 2d Annual Night Sky Fest on March 2, 2025 with attendance by three Aldrich
Astronomical Society astronomers and their telescopes. An estimated 40-60 people attended
despite the below zero windchills. Glad to have had another successful event, as we hope for
warmer temperatures for next year’s event!
Winter Carnival 2025
The EAC hosted an information table at this event on March 1, 2025. The table was visited by a
handful or two of families—some of whom came to Night Sky Fest.
Textile Collection Event
Scheduled for Sunday, May 4, 2025 from 10 am to 1 pm at the PMLD parking lot. Helpsy is
partnering with us; they are scheduled to drop off some bins on April 29 and to pick up the
collection at 1 pm on May 4. We’ll need volunteers to help staff. Corey has made a flyer and
posted it to Town News and social media. We need to drop off a box and flyer at PMLD asap in
case anyone starts bringing stuff ahead of time (although the flyer asked them not to).
Snow & Ice Policy
Spurred by resident complaints of mailboxes damaged from snow coming off of plows, the
Selectboard revisited adoption of a Snow & Ice Policy, last discussed in 2021. CBH provided the
last draft of the policy that she had (from November 2021), which included redlined EAC edits
to the Highway Department’s Draft Snow & Ice Policy. Those EAC suggestions were presented
to Sherry Patch and Ben Metcalf (Highway Superintendent) in November 2021. CBH noted to
the Selectboard that the EAC’s goal was for a realistic and implementable policy that takes into
consideration not only Highway Department resources (financial and staff) but also
environmental considerations weighed with public safety, and a policy that is detailed enough to
be implemented through any possible staff changes in the years ahead. The draft provided by
EAC followed several months of meetings with Sherry, Ben and CBH, as well as CBH research
including the following resources:
– feedback and suggestions from EAC members
– the Snow & Ice Policies of other municipalities (the Town of Medway, for example, discusses
environmental considerations in its policy),
– the Snow & Ice Control Program of MA DOT
– the Maine Environmental Best Practices Manual for Snow and Ice Control
– the Maryland Statewide Salt Management Plan
– MassDEP related environmental regulations and guidance
– the Central Massachusetts Regional Stormwater Coalition Standard Operating Procedures—
SOP 18: Winter Road Maintenance.
In providing the draft to the Phil Gott and Sherry Patch, CBH noted that environmental
regulations and other factors may have changed in the last four years and that she was happy to
conduct further research if and when necessary.
The policy as drafted was adopted by the Selectboard on March 5, 2025.
Hey Day
Claire has signed the EAC up for a table at Wachusett Meadow Audubon’s Hey Day 2025 on
October 4 from 11-4.

• Meeting called to order 7:02pm
• Members present: Corey Burnham-Howard (CBH,) Claire Golding (CG,) Starr O’Malley (SO,) Mark
Horeanopolous (MH,) Violet Abady (VA,) Forrest Iwanik (FI)
• Members absent: Richard Bisk (RB); Kaitlin Kohberger (KK); Ed Katebi (EK)
• Advisory Board Liaison Gerry Pellegrini (GP) present
• Meeting minutes review:
o 2/10 minutes approved as amended by CBH, CG second, unanimous approval.
o 2/24 minutes approved as amended by CG, FI second, unanimous approval.
• Updates:
o Community roundtable on the Environmental Action Plan scheduled for 4/17 at 7:00pm.
o Green News Brief on pesticides scheduled for April: draft by 4/1, finished by 4/15.
o Nature Walks with the Open Space Committee will be holding a Moth Ball. CBH will
reach out on behalf of the EAC to explore the possibility of tying this in with something
family oriented, possibly STEAM night at TPS.
o Earth Month Cleanup starts April 1.
o Spring Textile Collection Event is scheduled for Sunday, May 4th from 10am-1pm. CG, FI,
and SO have volunteered to attend.
• Resident Inquiry re: EAC availability to attend a Girl Scout Brownie Troop’s meeting and talk
about “making your home clean and green.” Multiple members expressed interest in attending.
• Next Meetings:
o Environmental Action Plan subcommittee meeting 3/27
o EAC normal meeting 4/14
• FI moved to adjourn at 8:27, SO second, unanimous approval.
*Documents referenced in meeting: EAC Agenda 3/10/25, EAC 2024-25 Activities, EAC Meeting Minutes
(2/10 and 2/24,) EAC Compiled Updates 3/10/25 (See attached), Resident Email re: Brownie troop event,
Earth Month Cleanup flyer, Spring Textile Collection flyer, Spring Nature Walks flyer)
Respectfully submitted,
Forrest Iwanik