Present: Laura Finestone, John Messerschmidt, Steve Rice, Ethan Roland, Lillian Green, Lynn Archer, Hank Bartosik
Chair: Laura Finestone
Note-Taker: Ethan Roland
Agenda & Notes:
- Earth Day Clean-up Recap
- Less overall tonnage of trash picked up, but more people came out.
- Next year: ECC continues to support youth commission with the project.
- More Cleanups?
- Board has requested 4 cleanups per year.
- Until our group decides on its priorities, we do not want to make a commitment to this project.
- Hank Reports on a Watershed Talk re: Esopus Turbidity
- EMC Report
- Sustainable Ulster website is up and running.
- Money exists for retrofitting municipal buildings
- DEP finished a tourism map – on the web – brochure May 16th
- Rail Trail Update
- Snag at the County attorney’s office for 25k.
- Steve looking to support the conversation between the town & county.
- ECC Members
- Judith Karpova is still listed on town website.
- Laura – email Judith re: submitting a letter of resignation to Carl Chipman.
- Two spots are available on the commission –
- Social Media Update
- All members should ‘Like’ Town of Rochester ECC page
- When we have 25 ‘Likes’ we can make a full webpage.
- Possible New Projects
- Speakers Bureau – focused on agriculture.
- Local farmers, CSAs
- Partner with RVGA?
- Geology walk – Dan Davis
- Rail Trail
- Reviewing Climate Smart Community Resolution
- Pledge for community adoption.
- Reviewing Ten Percent Challenge
- John will go and learn more this weekend
- We’re still in the information-gathering phase.
- Upcoming Events
- Transition Town Training – June 11 & 12 – Lifebridge Sanctuaru
- “The Economics of Happiness” movie showing – May 24th – MAMA
Action Items
- Laura – email Judith re: submitting a letter of resignation to Carl Chipman.
- Ethan – post ECC position to local environmental networks
- Ethan – Sends Transition Town Training announcement to Laura
- John – goes to Ten Percent Challenge training session & sends notes to group.
- Everyone – read through the Climate Smart Resolution and make suggestions to make it appropriate for our town.
- Everyone – think of potential topics for speakers bureau.