Environmental Council
Minutes of January 26, 2006
Old Chapel 401 4:30 – 5:45
Attending: Nan Jenks-Jay (Chair), Diane Munroe, Matt Landis, Alex Coleman, Jon Warnow, Moriah Helms, Don Mitchell, Austen Levihn-Coon, Charlotte Tate, Caitlin Matthews.
Missing: Robert Levine, Marie Horbar, Brendan Sullivan, Aaron Tucker, Jack Byrne
Announcements
Caitlin Matthews announced that the "-2 degrees" campaign had been passed. In an update by the environmental orientation subcommittee, there will be a Feb orientation event during the first week of second semester in which Febs will be given a virtual tour of Middlebury's environmental programs and stewardship. John Warnow brought up SGA's Proposal for Transportation which, in seven key points, demonstrates student support for transportation initiatives. John will send the proposal as an attachment to the members of the Environmental Council. Nan briefly discussed and explained zip cars.
Austen Levihn Coon announced that the Socially Responsible Investing committee will be meeting with trustees during lunch on February 10th. He wishes to distribute a letter written to the trustees to the Middlebury community, possibly via Midd Points or an all-faculty/staff email. The letter would include first, a request for transparency, and second, an establishment of an advisory committee of faculty, staff, and students.
Nan Jenks-Jay read through the environmental grants assigned by invitation, which include funding for Bobby Levine's CFL program, printing of Midd Magazine on sustainable paper, literature for the Recycling Center and wind turbine. Announcements for grant applications are ready for distribution. The grant proposal for the purchase of a new hybrid Honda will not be approved due to insurance reasons. It was suggested that there should be a test drive day for the new hybrid on campus.
Strategic Plan
Comments are due by January 30th and will then go to the trustees at their next meeting. The plan will not go up for vote/adoption until the trustee meeting in May. The plan has been generally well-received by the Middlebury community. At this point the work is on crafting final language, though there will be no significant change to the draft this round. Some changes have already been made in Chapter 5, including the removal of the words "state of the art" in reference to the environmental center.
In a short discussion of the commons system in relation to the strategic plan, five dining halls are considered unnecessary, and more clarity is wanted in recommendation 65, which concerns senior housing.
In terms of the scale of buildings, comments are welcome with regards to viewsheds (Recommendation 71). It was pointed out that Recommendation 71 does not address scale.
Nan will reread the plan and make a statement on behalf of the council.
Yellow Bikes Program
The Yellow Bikes Program has the potential for expansion and greater visibility on campus. At the time being, paths are multi-use, accommodating bikers and walkers. Current problems with the program include both heavy use of and hiding of bikes. To see improvement in the program, there needs to be greater staff support on campus. The council would like to see the creation of a bicycle culture on campus.