08/26/2025 SWG Minutes

MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 26, 2025

MEETING OF THE SUSTAINABILITY WORKING GROUP

 

The meeting commenced at 5:34 PM in the Library. Bruce Caplain was present and Paul Karpawich and Barry Zitser participated through video conferencing.

 

Bruce read the Mission Statement, but had inadvertently left out the word “enable” on the printed agenda.

The purpose of the Sustainability Working Group (“Group”) is to facilitate, educate and enable residents, businesses and municipal entities on economic, environmental, and socially sustainable practices so humans and nature can exist in productive harmony for present and future generations, while collaborating with others when appropriate.

 

There was no public input.

 

Bruce noted that the Bethlehem Elementary School has assumed full responsibility for creating and maintaining a community orchard on Town property near the solar array and School community garden. The School has received a grant for this purpose and is working with the Town. He suggested that this item be taken off future Group agendas, and Barry and Paul agreed.

 

Barry stated that the Center for EcoTechnology (CET) has agreed to provide a free food/plastic waste assessment for willing Bethlehem restaurants and schools. However, Barry is unavailable for the two optional dates given – October 8th and 15^th. It was agreed that Barry should be present for the assessments, and he will get an alternative date in October.

 

Bruce had previously sent the Group confirmation that the partnership with the Littleton Food Co-op has begun, with the Co-op now providing a $5 discount to promote a plant-based laundry detergent, which contains no microplastics, and is contained in a non-plastic biodegradable box. The promotion notes that this product has been endorsed by the Group, and the Group is sharing in financing the discount coupon. The Co-op expects to sell 100 boxes between now and the end of the year. Paul and Barry congratulated Bruce and also recommended that he extend this congratulation to Bruce Etter, who originated the idea. Barry further suggested that Bruce see if our sharing in the coupon costs could only extend to the first 100 boxes sold, since the Co-op would still likely see a profit from additional sales beyond 100, even at the reduced price.

 

On the discussion concerning membership, Barry noted that Mary Moritz has requested a list of our members to put onto the Town’s website. Since the Group does not formally vote on membership, it was agreed that our list should be entitled “participants”. The participants should include Bruce Caplain, Paul Karpawich, Barry Zitser, Bruce Etter, Jess Donnelly, Donna Kirschbaum, and Rachelle Lyons. Bruce indicated he would contact Dawn Russell, who should also likely be included as a participant, since she has not recently attended a meeting. Barry volunteered to get this list to Mary. Paul noted that we should be reaching out to increase our participants. Barry suggested that one way might be to seek to publish the Group’s achievements in “Our Town News”. He volunteered to draft an article on the Group’s partnership with the Co-op for Bruce’s and Paul’s review, which should also be shared with the Co-op, before submitting it to Chris Jensen.

 

In the discussion on developing a conversational group meeting, Bruce suggested that perhaps we could have a coffee night at Above the Notch, where the Group could promote its organization and entertain questions and comments. He also noted that the Group has sufficient funds to sponsor another movie with The Colonial Theatre next year and could also entertain some interactive conversation at that future event.

 

Bruce stated that he has been successful in reaching out to the Littleton Farmer’s Market to obtain a free table during next year to teach persons how to repair bicycles. He is confident that he can bring some experts and tools to show people how to restore bicycles for continued use. “Repair” has been one of the “r”s that has not received enough attention in the goals to reduce waste and maximize cost efficiency.

 

On the issue of social media presence, Barry shared an email he received from Mary Moritz, noting that she could contact Pam Sullivan to help set up a site on the Town’s website for the Group, similar to that set up for the Conservation Commission. However, Mary noted that the Conservation Commission rarely uses the site, in favor of putting information on Facebook, and asked whether the Group would still be interested in a site on the Town’s website.  The Group determined that we would actively use a site set up on the Town’s website, and Barry volunteered to convey this to Mary. However, Bruce will interface with Jess Donnelly to see if we can also promote other sites as well.

 

On other business, Barry suggested that the Group should see if it can put together a report of its achievements for publication in the Town’s next Annual Report. The Group thought that this was a good idea, and Bruce suggested that Barry contact Mary to see when such a draft report would be due.

 

The minutes of the June and July meetings of the Group were approved and Barry said he would forward them to Nicole McGrath.

 

The next meeting was set for Thursday September 25^th at 5:30 PM, and Bruce will secure a location.

 

The meeting adjourned at 6:04.