TOWN OF GRANBY
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
January 6, 2011
PRESENT: Neil Hornish, Shelley Reuben, and Carolyn Flint.
Also present was Anna Sogliuzzo.
Chairman Hornish could not confirm a quorum, so informal discussion began at 7:35pm.
CT CLEAN ENERGY FUND:
Ms. Reuben created an informational packet for the Board of Selectmen in regards to the CT Clean Energy Fund Community Innovation Grants. She will submit the packet to the Board of Selectmen at their January 18, 2011 meeting. The information packet includes:
- Memo from Shelley Reuben, describing the process as conveyed in the webinar on Monday, December 13, 2010
- Grant Guidelines
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be reviewed and approved (signed) by the First Selectman
- Solicitation Letter to be sent to community organizations, or adapted to be published in community publications (Granby News, Drummer, Valley Press). Letter asks groups to submit proposals for using the grant money for a specific project that 1) promotes clean energy signups and/or 2) promotes energy conservation education in the community
- Grant Application (blank) – to be completed by community groups as the document that describes their proposal for use of the grant money.
- Grant Application completed by GCETF for consideration. This proposal describes a Clean Energy Fair (tentatively scheduled for April, to be held in the Senior Center) which will provide an opportunity for the community to learn about
- Strategies to reduce clean energy consumption in the home,
- Programs and incentives currently offered by CT Clean Energy Fund, Energy Star, EPA, etc.,
- A brief workshop describing the changing rate in electricity providers, how to sign up for an alternate provider, and how to sign up for the clean energy option.
- Grant Report Form. This must be completed every January 31 and June 30 while the grant money is in use and submitted to the CT Clean Energy Fund
PUBLIC LIBRARY DISPLAY:
The Conservation Commission will be creating a display which will be housed in the Granby Public Library during the month of February. The board that was reserved is near the Children’s Room and is smaller than expected. For February, The Commission’s display will focus on the Task Force and Clean Energy Fund. Chairman Hornish will make a request for the Library’s larger bulletin board for another month so the Commission can make another display which will include information on the Commission’s role in Granby, the Natural Resource Inventory and photos taken by members of the Granby Camera Club.
NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY (NRI):
Chairman Hornish presented a draft copy of the NRI to the Commission and will email an electronic version to Commission members. He edited some sections and will work on the farmland section of the document.
Chairman Hornish will contact Susan Dwyer to see how she is coming along with the section on wildlife corridors.
DRAFT RIDGELINE GUIDELINES:
Chairman Hornish will review the draft letter of submission of the Guidelines to the Planning and Zoning Commission that Mr. Lengvarsky originally wrote.
CLEAN ENERGY TASK FORCE:
Ms. Reuben is working on compiling information for her database on town properties/buildings and their respective energy consumption. Town Manager Smith’s office will be assisting with collecting statistics on oil use, number of Town employees and the number of computers located in Town buildings.
Discussion was held on holding a Clean Energy Fair in April 2011 at the Senior Center. Ms. Flint suggested taking smaller steps to gain a grassroots base before holding such a large event. Chairman Hornish commented that the Commission needs to find a way to get people through the door to make the Fair successful. Suggestions to do so included:
- Speaking at the Senior Men’s and Women’s breakfasts to drum up interest as these events bring in approximately 100 residents each and are held monthly.
- Tie in the Fair with another community event such as a farmer’s market.
- Use some money from the Grant to purchase items to raffle off at the Fair.
- Ms. Sogliuzzo will see if she can get a discount on energy audit certificates for those residents who have signed up for the 20% by 2010 Campaign by a certain date.
SCENIC ROADS:
Ms. Flint commented that the Commission should recommend to the Board of Selectmen to put the “Scenic Road” signs back up throughout Granby. She also suggested the Scenic Road designations should be included in the Natural Resource Inventory.
The discussion ended at 8:34pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Emily Leveille
Recording Secretary
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