Environmental Council Minutes
May 7, 2002
Le Chateau D ~ 4:30 – 6:30
Members Present: Nan Jenks-Jay (Chair), Connie Leach Bisson (Vice Chair), Helen Young, Lori Del Negro, Charlotte Tate, Ben Wessler, Andrea Hamre, Ben Brouwer, Caitlin Hicks, Dane Springmeyer, Kaitlyn Gregg, Katy Saunders
Members Absent: Jon Isham, Charlie Sargent, Mike Moser, Tim McCahill, Oren Frey, Stephen Switzer, Abiezer Miranda, Erika Holsman, Erin Jensen, Sarah Herrup, Mandy Helwig, Valerie Benka
Guests: Diane Munroe, Dan Bedford, Peter Burton, Matt Biette
- Environmental Grants
Weather Station – Dan Bedford (Geography) provided the Env. Council with an update on the proposed installation of a satellite communication system to retrieve data from the golf course weather station. Due to delays in receiving necessary licensing from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), Dan is recommending that a ditch be dug and a phone line installed instead. Both the golf course staff (Peter Burton present) and facilities management (landscapers, athletics) benefit from real time weather information. One major unknown connected to the project is the lack of identification of who will provide management of the weather station in the future after Dan leaves the College at the end of June. Connie will research "ownership" issues of the weather station in more detail before the EC takes action on the request.
Greenhouse – Matt Biette, Associate Director of Dining Services, summarized the construction of the greenhouse, including its heat exchanger research tapping heat from the adjacent compost piles, and its first winter of operation. Summer plans include plantings of heat loving vegetables and watering with the water that drains from the food waste holding tank at the compost facility. In the fall, Matt hopes to install rain collection gutters as the site does not have water. He hopes that students will continue to be involved with research at this facility. Financed during two grant cycles, total environmental grant funds received were over $14,000.
- Env. Council section of Handbook
At the request of Eric Davis, the EC reviewed the section of the College Handbook that outlines the purpose and membership of the Environmental Council. After a good discussion about various sections of the purpose, the EC voted unanimously to have next year's EC review and potentially recommend revisions to this section of the Handbook in the fall. Connie will send Eric a memo stating that the EC accepts the current statement for use in the '02-'03 handbook. Since the current section does not clearly articulate that the EC meetings are open to the public, Connie will post the meeting schedule to encourage participation from interested members of the College community.
- Environmental Grants Assessment
Franci Farnsworth (College Advancement), Katy Saunders, Charlotte Tate, Ben Wessler, and Connie Leach Bisson conducted an assessment of the environmental grants program and provided EC members with a written summary. Charlotte reviewed key points of the analysis and recommendations. The faculty sponsorship component was discussed and all agreed it would be useful to more clearly articulate what the responsibilities entail.
Nan asked whether members felt it was the best use of $40,000. Helen Young spoke to the diversity of the grants and the enthusiasm of those who had undertaken grant work. Council members determined that it would be important to clarify with John McCardell the purpose section of the grant and whether or not he finds merit in the multiple intangible benefits the environmental grants program provides (grant writing training, leadership for peer institutions, community empowerment, etc.) This assessment will be shared with Acting President Ron Liebowitz at a year end meeting between several EC members and Ron.
- Carbon Neutral Subcommittee Year End Summary
Members for the CN subcommittee include Connie Bisson, Ben Brouwer, Asher Burns-Burg, Doug Dagan, Lori DelNegro, Oren Frey, Kaitlin Gregg, Andrea Hamre, Jon Isham, Michael Silberman, Katy Saunders, Charlotte Tate, Rich Wolfson, and Helen Young. Katy Saunders summarized the work of the Carbon Neutral subcommittee, presenting EC members with a written report of work over the 01-02 academic year, including an inventory of campus emissions of CO2, the February '02 College Climate Response conference at Lewis & Clark College, campus projects, and campus education. Nan commended the work of the subcommittee and conveyed her appreciation for the caliber of the year end summary, which will be shared with Acting President Ron Liebowitz.
- Closing Comments
Nan conveyed her appreciation for the hard work and commitment of the Environmental Council, and especially Connie's contribution to EC, throughout the year.