The following are minutes of the Somerset Environment Committee’s meeting, held Wednesday, June 11, at the home of George Wyeth (4717 Falstone). The next meeting will be held Wednesday, August 13 at the home of Mike Hill (4922 Dorset), 8-9 p.m. (Please note: with the exception of July, committee meetings will be the second Wednesday of every month, 8-9 p.m., with locations to vary). These minutes were prepared jointly by Mike and George.
Attendees: Committee Co-Chairs Mike Hill and George Wyeth, and also Robin Barr, Howard Byron, Jill Caporale, Donna Harman, Alan Proctor (Alternate Liaison to the Council), Marnie Shaul (Liaison to the Council), and Jen Harper.
Topics covered included:
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•Activities at July 4 celebration. The principal topic of discussion was the committee’s display planned for the Town’s July 4 celebration. Jill Caporale agreed to take the lead with help from others including Mike Hill and Donna Harman. She had already drafted an announcement for the Town Journal, which committee members commented on. Jill will ask whether the Town can provide a table for the display; if not, Mike has one that can be used. The display will include a give-away of compact fluorescent lightbulbs (“CFLs”), along with displays of a composter (furnished by Donna), and possibly a rain barrel (if it arrives by the 4th), by Mike. Fact sheets are being prepared on the CFLs, composting, and, possibly, the rain barrel. Jill is also hoping to arrange for a display of cleaning products by Josh *, a Somerset middle-schooler. As the date approaches, Jill will ask for help at the table from committee members.
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•Stormwater Assessment RFP: George reported that at its June meeting, the Town Council approved in concept issuance of an RFP for a Comprehensive Stormwater Assessment for the Town. [Subsequently, George and Marnie Shaul met with Dan Harper of Montgomery County for further advice, based on which the RFP was revised. A final RFP has been furnished to the town clerk along with a list of potential bidders.]
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•Recycling. Committee members reported what they understood regarding the status of efforts to ensure that the Town’s trash contractor, J&J, properly manages recycling. Mayor Slavin will be meeting with the contractor in the near future and will raise the concerns raised by some committee members.
