Farmington Green Efforts Committee September Meeting: A Brief, But Productive Discussion
Farmington, CT — On the evening of September 3, 2024, the Farmington Green Efforts Committee gathered for its monthly meeting at 7:00 PM, with members Stacy MacDonald, Sam Harrison, Kate Johnson, and Garrett Adams present. Although the meeting began with a challenge—lacking a quorum—the arrival of a late member allowed the committee to conduct official business. The session covered various topics, including the approval of meeting minutes, public education initiatives, and plans for upcoming community events.
Getting Started: A Quorum at Last
Chairperson Stacy MacDonald called the meeting to order, only to find that the committee was initially short of a quorum, preventing any official actions, such as the approval of minutes. However, with the timely arrival of Kate Johnson, the committee reached the necessary quorum, allowing them to proceed. The minutes from the previous meeting were quickly approved after correcting a minor error, where the date of a prior meeting was adjusted from June 4th to August 6th.
Meeting Schedule and Upcoming Plans
As Sam Harrison pointed out, the committee briefly touched on the meeting schedule, which didn’t require a vote this month. Harrison had circulated the schedule via email, noting that while it was not up for a vote until October or November, he appreciated the early distribution, allowing everyone to review it well in advance.
Newsletter Planning: Educating the Public
Discussion then turned to the content for the upcoming fall newsletter, with a submission deadline of September 20th. Garrett Adams suggested that the newsletter include reminders about the non-recyclability of black plastics and plastic bags—common issues he noticed during his walks around town. Stacy MacDonald agreed, noting that while these topics may have been covered in the summer newsletter, a brief reminder could still be beneficial.
The committee also explored the idea of highlighting the Westwood’s composting program in the newsletter. Sam Harrison mentioned that Tara White, who oversees the program, might have a year-end summary or updates that could be included if they were readily available.
New Composting Initiative: A Community Presentation
Kate Johnson shared a promising development—a potential partnership with the Farmington Land Trust for a community presentation on composting. This event, tentatively planned for October or November, would be led by a recently retired Westwood staff member, now working as an educator for the Land Trust, who is also taking a UConn class that requires her to give a presentation on composting. Johnson noted that this collaboration would provide a valuable opportunity to engage the community in sustainable practices.
Sam Harrison suggested involving Westwood students in the composting education efforts, potentially by having them teach their families and the broader community about composting. This idea was met with enthusiasm, with the committee agreeing to explore it further.
Littering and Future Community Events
The committee revisited the ongoing issue of littering. Kate Johnson mentioned her plan to reach out to schools now that the academic year had begun, with the hope of involving students in creating litter awareness signs as part of a capstone project.
As the meeting drew to a close, the members discussed the possibility of organizing a fall community event, similar to the spring cleanup, to foster greater involvement in environmental efforts. Garrett Adams suggested that an early summer event could also be considered, given the increase in littering during the warmer months.
Closing Remarks and Looking Ahead
With no further business, the committee wrapped up the meeting at 7:14 PM, setting a new record for brevity. The next meeting is scheduled for October 1, where the committee hopes to have more substantial updates and discussions. Among the topics expected to be on the agenda are the fall newsletter, the proposed composting presentation, and a potential pumpkin composting initiative as Halloween approaches.
A Word of Thanks
And finally, let’s not forget to thank our sponsor, Farmington Storage at 155 Scott Swamp Road. Whether you need to store your holiday decorations, that exercise bike you swear you’ll use next year, or just about anything else, Farmington Storage has got you covered. Give them a call at 860.777.4001, and tell them the Green Efforts Committee sent you—they might even find you some extra space for all those good intentions!
-JB-
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