07/29/2025 SWG Minutes

MINUTES OF THE JULY 29, 2025

MEETING OF THE SUSTAINABILITY WORKING GROUP

The meeting commenced at the Bethlehem Library at 5:32 PM. Present were Bruce Caplain and Andrea Knowles. Barry Zitser and Paul Karpawich also attended via zoom.

Barry read the Mission Statement:

“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.

 

Barry and Bruce noted that The Colonial Theatre event of June 27th, sponsored by the Group, went very well. The presentation by New Hampshire Recycles was educational, the movie about Jane Goodall was inspiring, there was a good audience turnout, and the free reusable gifts, to replace single-use plastics, were enthusiastically received by the winners.

 

On the posting of informational posters on recycling and use of the transfer station for multi-family units without recyclable pick-up, Bruce noted that the Senior Center has recently provided such recycling services, so that our posters are not required for the Center. He stated that his meeting with the manager of the Lloyd’s Hill apartments went well, and that posters are being displayed. Moreover, Lloyd’s Hill manager has some smaller rental complexes elsewhere in Bethlehem where the posters will also be displayed.  Barry noted that he has had several meetings with the Casella organization to find out about their pick-up arrangement with the Highview Apartments. Unfortunately they have not provided him with information as to whether there are any arrangements to pick up recyclables, as opposed to solid waste only. The reason he made the inquiry is because he noticed that behind the large trash bin there are two small containers, similar to resident zero-sort bins, which contain some recyclables. He suspects that this is a voluntary arrangement that is not picked up by Casella, based on one of his conversations with a Casella representative. Barry indicated that he will modify the poster(s) for Highview to note that recyclables “may” be taken to the transfer station, as opposed to “must”, and tape it to the enclosure where the large trash bin is located. He has previously been given permission by the manager of the Highview Apartments to do this.

 

On the subject of a community orchard, Barry noted that Andrea Knowles had forwarded to him an email from Mr. Stefan Shapiro, a teacher at Bethlehem Elementary School who is involved with managing the School’s greenhouse and gardens. Mr. Shapiro has mentioned the possibility of obtaining a grant that would allow a dozen or more trees to be planted as a community orchard near the School’s community garden at the Town’s solar array. Barry volunteered to reach out to him. Pending further information on this potential grant, the Group determined to hold off on the Town’s proposed Memorandum of Understanding for the Group to create and maintain an orchard. Barry and Andrea also noted that the tree clippings that they had been maintaining for transplantation to the orchard had died.

 

Barry noted that outside of the Select Board’s office there is a list of Town Committees, which includes the Transfer Station Committee, the Energy Committee, and the Sustainability Working Group. Bruce noted that since this posting, the Energy Committee has become a Commission. Bruce had also reached out to Mary Moritz to inquire as to the differences between a committee and a working group, but was told that there might not be a difference. Barry asked whether the Group would like to become more formal, with its members approved by the Select Board. He noted that in Connecticut working groups are distinct from public bodies, but he was not sure what their status is in New Hampshire. The concern expressed by Barry is that if the Group became more formal, it might require that a majority of its members be physically present at meetings to conduct business. A quorum of persons who are notified about the Group’s meeting has not occurred for some time, and this could be a barrier to moving forward on projects. It was the consensus that, at present, we should continue in our current framework.

 

Barry updated the Group on the Plastics Resolution that was adopted by the Select Board, which focused on Town operations and did not incorporate outreach to businesses and residents. Barry would like to get in touch with the Center for Eco Technology (CET) to provide a free, voluntary waste assessment for local restaurants and perhaps the Elementary School. While the assessment would focus on food waste, it could also include plastic waste. After discussion, it was determined that Barry should go ahead and see if CET could set aside a day for assessments in Bethlehem, and, if so, allow our Select Board liaison to inform the Select Board about this venture. This was essentially how it was done when the Transfer Station Committee had a free food waste assessment by CET several years ago.

 

Bruce has met with representatives from the Littleton Co-Op to explore the possibility of the Group endorsing certain sustainable products sold by the Co-Op, with the Co-op providing additional economic incentives for such products. Bruce noted that the Co-Op was very enthusiastic about this idea, and, along with Bruce, have identified some potential products. The Group had previously encouraged the sale of plastic free laundry detergent, and provided a free, raffled box of this product at The Colonial event. The Co-Op also sells small sustainable laundry sheets, which would be ideal for seniors due to their light weight. Before moving forward, the Co-Op wants to gather some marketing data.

 

There was a continued discussion on encouraging a repair event, which might focus on volunteer experts providing advice and tools to show people how to repair bicycles. Bruce suggested that perhaps we could reach out to the Littleton Farmers Market to obtain a free booth for such an event for early next year.

 

Bruce commenced a discussion about promoting sustainability through social media. He had previously provided a list of some sustainable practices from A through Z. His proposal is for the Group to prepare content that Jess could put on Instagram/Facebook, and also on Our Town News. Bruce will reach out to Chris Jensen about the possibility of publishing the Group’s approved, sustainability practices on Our Town News. Barry volunteered to get in touch with Mary Moritz about the possibility of the Group having a site on the Town’s website.

 

The issues of membership and on developing a conversational group were deferred to the next meeting, because these issues have been raised by Rachelle Lyons, who was not in attendance for this meeting.  Bruce volunteered to contact Rachelle to see if she can attend our next meeting.

 

On other business, Paul brought up the possibility of partnering with Profile High School, and perhaps the Middle School, on sustainability issues. He has some contacts with the High School and will explore this possibility.

 

Barry noted that due to some computer problems he has not yet put together the minutes for the June meeting, and will send out both the June and July minutes for consideration at the next meeting.

 

The next meeting date was set for August 26^th at 5:30 at the Library.

 

The meeting adjourned at 6:21 PM.