Chestertown Environmental Committee Minutes
March 10, 2022
Zoom
In attendance: Darran Tilghman, Andy Goddard, Krista Lamoreaux, Ford Schumann, Zack Kelleher, David Sobers, Kevin Denice, Carole Trippe
Minutes: February minutes approved
Work Group Reports
Waste Management.
Discussion on Infinity Recycling closing. Ford said that company would need to double rate to customers to cover costs. He met with Chestertown officials to discuss possibility of continuing town curbside recycling. Currently charging town $5800 per month.
Possible to change to once a week trash pick up and once week recycle pickup.
Investigate costs of what other towns pay for recycling.
David Sobers to develop potential work program with Ford providing numbers.
Farmers’ Market Booth – CEC booth will start back up at market beginning in April. Need volunteers to staff. 2 hour shifts.
Earth Day Festival Saturday April 23
Town Permit approved. Press release sent to media. Posting on Facebook.
Community Trash/Recycle Walk. No need to pre- register. Offering free seedlings and seeds to participants.
Sponsors: Wash College CES, LaMotte, ShoreRivers, Infinity, EVI Institute of MD
Participating: Infinity Guess the Bale Weight/ Free Shredding 9 – 11 am
Confirmed: Chestertown Garden Club, Adkins Arboretum, Echo Hill, Solar United Neighbors, KidSPOT kids crafts
Good selection of Electric Vehicles. EV Institute of MD will have info on charging stations
Energy – solar.
- Solar United Neighbors (SUN) Co Op has launched for the Eastern Shore
- rolled into the Anne Arundel effort
- three Zoom calls offered last month to launch the initiative (Jim B with details)
- the CEC has formally become a sponsor
- SUN will have a booth at the Earth Day Festival
- planning a press release locally to announce the project
- Delmarva Power – solar without panels
- Community Solar – subscribe to solar farm generation
- Nexamp – low to moderate income resident program
- Morgnec Road Project 45 MW
- initial approval by PSC on January 7th
- County Commissioners appeal decision in February
- the CEC has not formally opposed or endorsed this project?
Transportation – EV Charging.
- closing in on 20 charge points in Chestertown
- hardware on the ground at K&L Services – four L2 chargers
- Delmarva – Foot of High Street
- transformers and high voltage feed installed on the pole
- PE site drawings have been approved and issued
- WAC units replaced with all J-1772 connections (no Tesla)
- Vault Storage chargers reconfigured with Sema Connect rates of $1 per hour (20 miles range per hour)
- Electric Vehicle Institute of MD
- is an Earth Day sponsor and booth participant
- provides hardware for new installs and operational costs for 5 years
- will partner with the CEC to identify and pursue ARPA funding for
- select target corridor locations (i.e., Rt 213) for EV charging
- identify “rural” defined sites for funding of EV charging
- will champion the installation of chargers at the new YMCA with the CEC
Water and Habitat
Carol Trippe joined work group.
- Report on mosquito spraying alternatives:
- Integrated Pest Management- source reduction
- Xerces Society for Conservation of Invertebrates- Integrated Mosquito Management – IMM
- Strengthen Intervention- eliminate stagnant water & artificial breeding grounds
- Storm water management
- Public Education
- Supported by World Health Organization – WHO
What does Kent County do?
Some surveillance, traps mosquitos and tests for disease
Some public education
Adulticide- truck mounted spraying
Action Item: Have Mosquito Info at Earth Day Fest
Put info on opting out on CEC page, town website
Food Security
Krista working with Julie King/farmers’ market manager on doubling WICK
Other- Town Council Member Ward concerns
Jose Medrano MDE inspect area by tank behind Tidewater Trader building? Is site contaminated.
Meghan Efland Andy & Ford to collaborate with her on posting info on recycling info dos and don’ts
Tom Herz Concerned about overflowing trash- esp. by restaurants