Okay, so we are now recording and you have a quorum. All right. Welcome to the new year everybody. Have a nice holiday. So, you know, just want to, I guess highlight on some of the things that we did. Last year, you know, with a lot of progress made we had a different execution strategies. I know we had a transfer from Laura to myself and again, Laura did an awesome job.  And I, you know, especially as a volunteer right for the town and I just hope that we can make monumental progress this year I think it's important that we stay connected with the town. And with the community at large. There's a lot of actions that the community wants to drive so there's a there's interest, and I hope we'll stay connected to support some of the actions from our carp and other things that we have this year, funding for heat pumps we have pace. We have solar bylaw.  So a lot of things that we need to look forward to challenging as well. But some of the other towns in the state are putting forward very robust plans they noticed that Northampton is requesting $3 million and they're coming up with that 2030 target for carbon neutrality. So it's very interesting to see that. So just something to keep in mind a lot of towns are applying pressure. I think we can to we should be leading the charge and there's a lot of interest in the community so with that, you know, switch to our vision. We're cooperating with the town and community to raise climate awareness and achieve results with a sense of urgency and everything we do we will put environmental justice at the forefront of our decisions. Does anybody want to comment or Sue I'm sorry to interrupt you but you need someone to take minutes. Oh, yeah, it is. See Laura did last time. Jesse you did one before Laura, so it'll be done. Got it. Okay. Thank you. Sorry I went on a spiel right. Um, anyone else want to add or make any comments about last year and this year. I can't see your hands are raised I'm sorry. Okay, we're good. All right and then we're keeping these five pillars. Again, these names, you don't have to be the only person doing all the work. You know people who are within our committee who are interested in specific sectors so please reach out. This hasn't changed. We'll continue with this, these five pillars. We have metrics, and I guess I do need all of you, especially people who are leading these pillars to come up with specific metrics that we can talk about and track. I know the community dashboard is something that we were talking about and hopefully will be implemented this year. How might that look like if we add those these metrics into our dashboard, something to think about. In terms of open actions. Stephanie you have first couple there. Any updates. No, no, not since the last meeting and the holidays. Okay, quite a bit. And then Don, have you reached out to the chamber. You went on, Vasu, I've had RSV and pneumonia for the last three weeks. I've done nothing except for rice. Are you feeling better, Don? No, I am. As of Tuesday, as of yesterday. Okay, good. My wife had COVID for about a week. Not the same. Yeah, hopefully, hopefully feel better. So we'll keep this action on with something that I guess you want to keep in mind. And then Stephanie and Don, did you receive any feedback from the committee? I didn't. Okay. Are you for the, oh for the pace flyer now. Yeah. All right, I think this is something that is important before we meet with the chamber or. Right, Stephanie. Yeah, we should.  Yeah. Everyone prioritized this within the next couple of weeks before our next meeting. If you can give feedback to Don and Stephanie. Do you all have the document? I know, I just wondered, did we send it? I'll have to take a look. We might not have sent it. I don't think so. Don't remember. I think. Right after the call. And then I met, so I can't remember. I have to follow up with our, like, because I wasn't sure Don, if you were going to do some revisions to it, I can't remember how we left it. I'd have to take a look back at my notes. Oh, so I do see the flyer actually. Yeah, I thought. To all of us on December seven. Yeah. And I could just forward it to everybody. Again. Sure. Okay, Stephanie, your. Item is next one forwarding. Yeah, so we just have to. Finalize that and then are you talking about the feedback about the solar survey? No, this is still pace. Okay, so yeah, that's. Yeah. Right. So I need. Before we finalize it. That's connected with the one above. Yeah. Don and I, you know, have been meeting and we'll meet again, I guess probably. I think we've had a conversation about this already. I mean, I think we've discussed it as a committee. And then Don and I met and talked about it a little more. So we haven't come up with the exact strategy, but I think we talked a little bit about who we want to reach out to. And we did actually, we did talk a little bit about strategy done. Is it okay if I jump in here? Sure. We talked, you know, a bit about maybe reaching out to the chamber about doing some kind of an event at a chamber breakfast. And having, you know, inviting business owners to a chamber breakfast and having Don and or either the finance director or someone from the actual pace program. Come in and speak to business owners about with the program entails that was one strategy. And then I know we talked about having information available here in town hall for when folks come for permitting, so that there's like a flyer information that's available for them to have access. And then I can't remember Don fill in what I'm missing. I know we talked about a few things and I'm sorry I don't have my notes. There was some discussion about, I think I think Jesse or somebody raised the issue of, could we identify, you know, large owners of multi family projects or commercial buildings, who we might be able to identify and try to communicate with and in some way shape or form. We did talk about with the with the heat pump program, reaching out to landlords to sort of try to get pace and the heat pump program together to sort of encourage landlords to maybe utilize the police program for, you know, building retrofits for heat pumps. So we talked about like combining those two things. So again, just a matter of maybe, you know, pulling that together but the heat pump program is still sort of in the works of being developed so. Sorry. We have a consultant. No, no, we don't we so we have, we got a proposal that sort of is which is what we needed in order to write the town has decided that it wants to create an RFP and then it kind of has to because of the finance financial piece over a certain time that we were required to actually do outreach to other consultants we can't just go with one so I talked to Lori today we had a meeting about that program and the the proposal that I've received, received thus far so I'm going to do a draft I'm not going to review it she's going to comment on it and provide feedback and then we're going to take that revised RFP and then I will submit it to procurement here, and then it would go out to the state list of consultants. If we do it as a sort of general RFP it's going to take longer because it has to be advertised in the newspaper and it's just a longer process so we're it's faster if we go through the state and there's lots of consultants on the state list so it's it really limits us I mean it's actually it'll be okay I think to go through that state list and I can share the list with folks like when we're ready to request proposals I'm happy to to see if I can easily can you know provide the list of consultants so that people want to take a look and have ones that they specifically think we should send it to happy to provide it and do that and get feedback. So, Stephanie, are we targeting like end of Q one where we get a consultant finalized and then awareness. Doing this as fast as I can with the resources that I have and the other projects that I have so it's it is moving forward I can't tell you exactly, I don't want to say exactly because I am focused on it it's kind of the heat pump program to me is kind of like one of my priorities right now. But I, you know, it takes time to like develop the RFP and I think you know we want to get it right and we want to make sure we're hitting the points that we want to, especially that you know Lori pointed out some great omissions from what was provided to us so I think, you know with her feedback I think we'll have a good proposal and it's going to take at least a few weeks like once we get it out. We'll have a few weeks for consultants to respond and then we have to review their proposals and there may be interviews and, you know, and if we if there are interviews then certainly I would want to loop Lori into those interviews if she has time and is available. Okay, can I mark this action complete then the specific one. We and don talked about it. Oh yeah, yeah. Andrew has a question. Yes, Andrew. Let's see on the phone. It's not easy to lower hand. I don't know if I'm getting this mixed up with one of the other grants, but I, I thought that we heard about a change to how you're going to structure was either the heat pump program or one of the other ones. Where the bulk of the appropriation was budgeted or proposed to go to a consultant, and then you changed it or it was changed. Well, I think, well, I can tell you that with the heat. Yeah, I think with the heat pump program and it's kind of the opposite. We actually were going to hire a staff person. And instead of that it's been revised to work with a consultant to do the heat pump program because we'd engage them for basically two years. And that's the proposal because the funding we only have the funding for a certain period of time. So the idea was to engage a consultant to work on the outreach and work directly with the community on the heat pump program. We're also trying to build in, and this is the piece that Lori and I talked about today. Community advocacy education program so that some community members can be taught how to do the outreach and work with community members so that after that program is over, there's still outreach about heat pumps to the community so that, you know, again, that's where like the community captains and that kind of piece comes in. So that's going to be part of the program, but it will still come in more towards the end.  And maybe working with it. There's like a team of people. I, again, I don't know how that's going to unfold, but that was the change. I think that's the change you're referring to. I don't know. I thought that I thought that there was going to be money going to incentives or some some other way. Yeah, there's both. No, there's. So the way we're looking at this is that we don't want more than half of the funding to go to a consultant.  The idea was that to have an entity that kind of already works with that and have them have them do some of the, you know, sort of be in charge of some of that outreach, and then the you know, yeah, they would do that outreach part and then the, the sort of advocacy group could come in at the end and there'd be some funding sort of advocated for that but then the rest of it is for incentives. So, at least half of that funding should go to incentives. I mean, and I, I think we all internally feel very strongly that at least have to have has to go to incentives. And the focus is really on direct outreach to like the program would be available to everybody, but the consultants outreach would really be targeted for low income homeowners and also the rental community as well, and building, you know, I think building outreach to if we can, you know, really get them with that see pace, you know, program, like marrying those two things might be a way to really engage them and I think when we do the see pace outreach it might be good to sort of have the heat pump program a little more established so that we can definitely use that as like a, you know, a tool and incentive to get them engaged. Yeah, makes sense. Thank you. And then Stephanie, did you hear back from everybody on the call. Solar survey questions. I got a few responses I think just from Jesse and Steve, and those were sent to the consultant. Okay, and so the consultant had extensive feedback actually so Steve had quite extensive feedback, which was really helpful. And then there were other committee members from the solar bylaw working group who had some extensive feedback so I met with the consultant today and she's taking all of that into consideration, and we'll revise it, the survey and send the next draft, which because we're on this topic I just wanted to say that I think we would like to schedule her for the meeting on the 18th, which is the next meeting. And I know you already have a guest speaker but I think we should make time, because this is a timely process that we have to adhere to for her to review the revised survey questions with all of you and then also to talk about the community engagement process and I will have documents for both of those to you prior to that meeting on the 18th. Okay. And Lori, who's who's going to be attending on the 18th. I think it's Stella had somebody. Oh, it's still. Okay. Yeah, that was going to be Aaron to come talk about transport but I was actually going to say she can't do the 18th anymore she prefer to do the first at 530 so there's actually no conflict. Oh, that's great. Good. Okay. So I can confirm then with Adrian dunk from Gza that she'll be on the agenda for the 18th. Laurie, did you have somebody else on for the education series. No the next thing that I was going to plan was a panel, but I haven't started doing that yet I was figuring that would be for February or March after it gets get past the holiday so I was going to start planning that now if it's still something we want to do, there, I know this may end up being part of one of the things that Stephanie's been working on so I'm not sure. I think Stephanie and I need to talk first before I start planning that talk again. Yeah, I think it should line up with everything else that you're going to be doing Lori so yeah, there's some planning that might be needed. The, the ACJ a I'm sure you all know the Amherst climate justice Alliance is they are doing a series of events this early winter and and and so it may be that we would use our event capital to sort of encourage people to attend their events. So this is a group of students in that. That's who connected me to there so they're going to have a Jesse you're talking sunrise embers, right, not ACJ. Well they're calling themselves ACJ a Okay. Okay. I have encouraged them, and us and everyone, not to use acronyms, but so the climate justice Alliance, which I think overlaps with sunrise it's sort of like a wrap around groups sort of. So they're going to have like a community art project. Organized by mothers out front, and then a panel with panelists asked questions pertaining to climate change advocacy and Amherst which I'm going to sit on. That was a topic I wanted to bring up at some point I want to kind of pick everyone's brain I've asked for the questions ahead of time I'd love to hear all of our responses if I'm representing the group, and then then there's going to be a another event which I'm not exactly sure what it is so those are events that are happening so I just want to keep that on our radars, not to schedule things during other good groups events. Jesse can you connect us to that group and let us know when that when their meetings are or just send a link or something. I am trying to get more information from them but I definitely will do that. Yeah, students are taking the lead on that. But it's a coalition of all the different climate organizations in the month is up front is one of them can is one of them. Thanks Jesse. All right, so one action that's urgent. Everybody please send your feedback to Stephanie and Dawn for our next meeting. With that, let me move on to the next part of the agenda and review and review. We didn't, we didn't do the initial things. Review minutes. That's that's what I'm getting it now. Oh, this is all vision and charge. Yes, yes. Yeah. Did everyone get a chance to review the minutes. If we accept them as they are. Sorry. A second. Okay, need a voice vote in no particular order. Goldner. Yes. D. Yes. Allison. Yes. Regevan. Yes. Selman. Yes. Rege. Yes. Rose. Yes. Roof. Yes. Okay, the minutes are approved. Right. Thank you everybody. And let's open it up to the public for comments. We have two attendees. Including Anna. If either you would like to speak, please. Virtually raise your hand and I'll. Unmute you. You don't think so. Okay. Let's move on to the next part of the agenda then and talk about our progress reports with. D. D. Regevan. I don't know if you have any updates on seabase with. You calling sick. Okay. I'll turn it over to Stella for transportation then. Yeah. So Aaron is going to come talk now. The first about. What's going on with. Mostly bike pedestrian and. Bus. In the city of Durham, North Carolina. Stephanie, would you like me to send another email about that? Okay. I'll send you a flyer template that you can use to create one. Okay. And I would also recommend that you talk to tack. And maybe there should, there should be some interest from tack. To be part of this meeting. I would think. Yeah. So before. I can't remember when I last gave an update. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Before. I can't remember when I last gave an update. Cause things got a little. Confusing right before the winter, but. But I. On dry believe connected me with somebody from tack and we were supposed to chat, but then we didn't, but. It's proof. It's a little bit tricky. If anybody has contacts in tack, continue to send them to me. But yeah, I will do that. And then it sounded like there was enthusiasm for Jesse's idea. Of. Of middle schoolers coming to chat. About. Youth mobility and. The bus system. And I think that's a great idea. So also if anybody has. You know, And Vesu and stuff. Vesu, I think suggested that there'd be kind of a transportation thing monthly. As far as like guests speaker. So if anybody has noticed, has. Names for enthusiastic middle schoolers who like riding the bus. Send those to me as well. And that would be then if Aaron is coming to talk about the electric vehicle vendors coming in in April, right around Earth Day, right? Stephanie, right? Yeah, they should. Well, we'll have, I don't know about vendors, but we would have. The Pioneer Valley Electric Automobile Association is typically present at the sustainability festival. And that's on Earth Day this year. And they always have vehicles. But they're not, they're not vendors. They're just one year. We did have vendors. They were able to get some vendors to come to, but they don't always, we don't always have the space to do that because the farmers market. Typically starts the same weekend that we have the festival. And so there's kind of a conflict of space. So we were able to do it one year because we held the festival a week earlier, but I don't think we want to change the date this year because it's right on Earth Day. Yeah, one time they did it next to the library, Stephanie. Not the sustainability festival is always on the, is always on the town. The electric vehicle vendors were. Oh yeah. Yeah. So they do that. Actually she does that a lot. So there's a woman named Kay, who is the kind of the primary. Liaison for that group to the town. And they often have events. They sometimes they've done them at big wipe. Plaza. They've done them all over the place. So, but you know, we could, we would definitely have some vehicles for that event. Yeah. I think I would still want to try to find a speaker for April, who's who doesn't really have a stake in things financially. Who can come give kind of a presentation on the model of the heat pump presentation. That can answer some questions about, about logistics and charging and range anxiety. That kind of stuff. So then that's the transportation. Plan and update through April, if that sounds good to me. The big thing. It sounds good to you. I don't know. Sounds good to everybody. Yeah. So. So feel free to send me tack contact still. And. Middle school contacts. Have you tried to reach out through the staff liaison that's on the. I think it's Guilford mooring, but. Don't think there was an email address listed. If not, if you. If you want, I could send it. To him. I think he has some of his staff actually help with the agenda. So I could reach out to them and ask them to see if you can get on there. Yeah. Like if you send me an email saying what you want to meet with them about, then I could forward that onto them so that you actually at least. Can potentially get on the agenda. Cause I think that's what you're trying to do, right? Oh yeah. Okay. There is an email. I see an email. Yeah. Cause right now their next meeting is listed as November 20th. Which it definitely isn't, you know what I mean? But I can email him. His email is on here. Okay. And copy me on it. Okay. See, see me on it as well. Cause then if you don't get any follow up. I can, I can help. Okay. Sounds great. I'm just going to make a note of that. Go ahead. Yeah, I just wanted to. You know, ask. If you're thinking that the topic you would. Present on is the things in the carp that are. Tech topics. I was imagining it being kind of less of a presentation and more of a. This is where we're at on transport. Like how can we, how can we mutually support each other? Because I would assume, I would assume that they're aware of the carp. You, you don't think that's a safe assumption? Okay. Yeah. That's something we can kind of, I, I think. Maybe in preliminary email. Conversations. I can kind of figure out. Definitely at a minimum invite, invite their membership to what we're doing and see if there's anything that we should be directing people towards. Well, I think Dwayne had his hand up before. I was just going to offer. I may, I may not be alone, but. I've been driving an EV for a year and a half. And I wouldn't necessarily say I'm an expert in terms of, of the technology and the infrastructure and so forth, but I'm happy to, you know, if it's more of a conversation type of. Opportunity with, with part of the presentation that I'm happy to sort of just bring in my own experience with EV and. Range issues and recharging. And the performance of the car. That's good to know. Thanks. Yeah. Stephanie and then Don. Yeah, I was just going to say, I wonder if it. If you actually got on their agenda to maybe talk about the carp. Like maybe just talk about the transportation section of the carp with them. Like that might be the. Sort of way to get on their agenda in that way. You can tie them together. That sounds good. It's a great idea. Thanks. Yeah. Apropos of what Wayne said, I've actually been. Living in EV for four years. That 3000 miles worth. And happy to talk about my experience and the differences between. The, you know, how far I can go in the summer versus how far I can go in the winter. I can get from my house to damage Scott and main in it. And I'm in the. We're in the process of buying a new. We're in the process of buying a new car. I'm on day Ionic five, which I've been driving, which is quite an impressive EV. So happy to do that too. I can't help a lot with charging, although I do have some apps because we mostly charge it at home. We have a. Home charger. So. I mean. Yeah. I think that's maybe a more effective approach is to just. Kind of have a round table with Dwayne and Don and. And maybe somebody who's. In the industry to talk about charging, but maybe not even because. I feel like that's what people are really craving when it comes to a lot of this stuff is just kind of neighbor to neighbor. Chit chat about, does it work? And that's something that we can really offer that. Maybe going to be as easy to find it at something like. The sustainability fair when there's industry representatives. Or do people think it's really helpful? They're not. I just want to be clear that they're not industry representatives. They're literally just people who like. Like Dwayne and Don. Yeah. Love electric vehicles. We did. We used to have a member and fortunately he passed away, but we had a member who even built. His own electric vehicle, like years and years ago, like way before, way ahead of the curve. And he used to show up with his car and just sort of share it with people, but yeah, these are not industry people. Stephanie, I thought I recalled it. The sustainability fair. Last year, maybe at some point there was, there were. Some EVs with. Representative from dealers. That happened one year. Okay. Okay. And that was a year that, like I said, it's. It was a year that we had. You know, the festivals so that it didn't conflict with the mobile market. I mean, the farmers market. So. And typically that. They are in conflict. So we needed the space and we just did it that one year. Okay. Anna has a comment on a. Stephanie, I don't know if you. Hold on. Let me. Anna, go ahead. You can unmute. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Sorry. To kind of break protocol. Thank you. I apologize. I cut out for a minute here, but I'm not sure who you. Who you emailed from tack. They do have a town email, which is tack at Amherst. But the chair is Tracy Zafian. And she's very responsive via email. Is that who you reached out to? And if not, I can, I'm happy to send along for email. No, and I would love her email. Thank you so much. Great. All right. I will, I will email it. Thank you. And I apologize. Thank you. Thanks, Anna. Jesse. Yeah, Tracy's great. We've done some cool research on driving while talking on the phone too. You should ask her about that. Thanks, Jesse. I think for the. Oh, I didn't even think of that. I'm so sorry to call you out by accident. But also hopefully I'll save your life. I think one thing that would be really great at anything event like this would be someone that's current on any tax or state federal incentives and just sort of, because I know not every vehicle qualifies and something that's just really simplifying. And give that, that guidance and how that's done and what it really means and who that would affect. Yeah, that's exactly what I was going to bring up. Thanks, Jesse. Thanks, Don. Yeah. I think the IRS just released their guidance. For this coming year on the tax incentives and I mean, the federal tax incentives. I don't know, Massachusetts has its own, but I know the IRS just released its guidance and it is really complicated. Not so much for the first couple of months, but it's going to get more complicated after that because there's a split between assembling the vehicle here in the United States and where the components for the lithium battery are coming from. But at least for the first two or three months, it's it's one $7,500 credit. So long as the car is below, you know, $54,000, I think. And again, there's only they've listed what the acceptable models are. It's a publication that can be found pretty straightforward. Thanks, Don. Dwayne. Yeah, sorry. Yeah, just to add to that on the state's level on the state side. There is the what's called the more EV. I forget the acronym. What Massachusetts. Something OV more EV. Anyhow, which offers, well, not similar, but different additional rebates from the federal government. It's a little bit depending on the, on the type of car as well, but it's all listed quite, quite well works. It's worked very well. I tapped into that on the federal side, quite frankly, it's important to get the rebate, but the dealer dealt with the, at least in my case, the dealer dealt with the rebate from the federal level and clearly subtracted that from the bargain price. So that's a little bit trans less transparent to the, to the purchaser, but on the, the state more EV, that's the state, the purchaser needs to apply for that. A little bit more cumbersome, but it works. If this is a, if this is sort of a, if we're not, if we're talking about one of our meetings as an educational thing, which I think we are as opposed to the sustainability fair, I could, we could reach out to DOER, which runs the clean cities program, which is about transportation. They, it's a federal program. So I suspect they're pretty versed on the federal funding as well, but they also implement the more EV program. So they might be able to give up. I don't know anymore who does that at DOER, but we could reach out to them and see if somebody might be able to join us for, you know, half an hour. That at the needed evening. Don and then Lori. Yeah. The other thing to keep in mind is that the fed thing is a tax credit, which, which is great for some of us and which is not so great for probably the majority of us. And although I think the new law is going to actually provide, whereas the more EV is actually they send you a check for, you know, $2,500 or whatever it is. The feds is a tax credit. Although my understanding of the new law, is that the one that Republicans are screaming about now in their election of their failure to elect their speaker. The lack of their election. Yeah. I think the new law is actually going to give money to people for whom the tax credit would not be valuable for lack of a better way of describing it. There's a lot of complexity about it, but it's, it can be run down for sure. Thanks. Very good. Yeah, just two comments on the new law, the new federal law, I believe has still tax credits though for used vehicles. But as far as I know, and I can remember it's all tax credits, which is unfortunate. The other thing I just wanted to mention is I'm not sure the tax credits is the thing to really. It's actually fairly straightforward to find the web page where they're all described. It's only about five minutes worth of, you know, one slide, two slides, maybe one for the federal government and one for the state. So it'd be a small part of any presentation and the problem is, I tried to look into, I did look into electric vehicles last summer, I did quite a lot of shopping around, ended up not getting one ended up getting a used vehicle in part because they're so hard to get right now. But the other problem is that the tax credits aren't doing, I think what they were supposed to do, because for example, the Chevy Bolt, which is no longer eligible for any of the credits was pretty much exactly $7,000 cheaper than comparable models that were eligible for the tax credit last year. And they even said their ads all last year for the Chevy Bolt were, you know, I think it was actually $6,300. They were officially giving off and they're still doing that. They're still advertising them as reduced by $6,300. So I'm not sure that these tax credits are doing what they're supposed to. I think that the car companies are basically pocketing them, raising, you know, raising their prices appropriately, which I think is unfortunate, but that was what I observed last summer. Stephanie. Thanks. So I just, ironically forwarded myself an article that I wanted to share with all of you and I just didn't get a chance to send it out today, but it's specifically about this. And they were talking about the, they're focused on the federal tax credit and I can forward this article to you, but Don, I'm curious, because they were saying that the, the federal, the Treasury Department wouldn't be releasing its EV tax credit rules until March. So I don't know if like there's sort of initial information that was out, but there's more information coming. This article was just released yesterday. So this is pretty updated. There is a publication. There's probably more coming out, Stephanie.  And I happen to know of it because I'm partial to Hyundai's. And because they don't manufacture here in the US, there are no tax credits for any hundred bars. And Hyundai's upset because they were in the process of opening a manufacturing facility in Tennessee. But it takes a period of time to get any sort of manufacturing facility up and running. But I think, I propose you Lori, I think the bolt now will be eligible. They just ran out of their credits, but under the new law, the bolt will for sure Chevy and Tesla for sure will be eligible. And there's a number of other ones, but I think you're right, Stephanie, there's this battle going on, whether they're going to tweak some of these things because of a perceived unfairness in the whole process, vis-a-vis the automakers, not anybody but the automakers. Yeah. Right. And they do have this article has a list. I'll forward it to you all and I'll add it to the packet as well. But it does list EV models that will qualify for the tax credit. So as we know, like, like you said, Don, it's obviously those that are manufactured in the US primarily. So I'll share it. Sorry. No, no, sorry. Jesse and then sell it. So I want to just, this is very interesting, this conversation, but I think also makes me very nervous that. In the sense of this is, we just kind of threw out a lot of half known things that all, and that's the nature of what's happening out there in the world. I'm just going to sort of say, Stella, your job is not easy. I think a goal of any of our presentations should be to sift through this stuff and not present the vagary of it, but to present the, what is clear and to create clear paths forward. I think a conversation like this is necessary to get there. But I just want to encourage you, I think there's work more than just getting the right people in the room. Like maybe it's like a bullet list instead of links, like a very clear, and I think also to recognize that, you know, not everyone's ability to get online and track things down and find slides and sort of engage in a research project. So if there's a way to do some of that research and clear out some of the noise as part of the prep for this, I think that would be super useful to anyone that shows up. One thing I would add, Stella, is there's a nonprofit in Boston called the Green Energy Consumers Alliance. I've forwarded emails to you in the past. It might be somebody you want to touch base with. Their website talks about rebates that are available.   And they're very visible. Okay. Thanks. Yeah, we try to get Green Energy Consumers Alliance to be at the Sustainability Festival when they can. Sometimes they're there and sometimes they can't do it. Yeah, I mean, so what I'm hearing is that for that presentation, that's kind of more EV focused in April, it would be helpful to have somebody talk and be able to answer questions on charging infrastructure. Somebody on kind of range anxiety in the vehicle itself and somebody who is able to kind of sift through some of the information, the financial information and tax information. And maybe those are the same people. And maybe those are different people. Maybe that's the same person that maybe those are different people. And that sounds like it would be a nice compliment to whatever presentations are happening at the Sustainability Fair. Does that seem like accurate? Folks at the Green Energy Consumers Alliance. I mean, especially through the drive green program are probably pretty versed on all of this. So I wonder if we can get somebody. From there to speak. You know, similar to the way Lori did with the heat pumps. See if we can get somebody. Yeah. And it sounds like if it's not getting finalized till March. Maybe. Yeah. I think the second meeting in April is the time for this. Or can they be part of the sustainability fair? Well, I do think it's nice to have an online option. So people don't have to show up at the sustainability fair. To like get this information. You will just have a lot more people at the sustainability fair. So it's just something to be conscious about. Yeah. I mean, they'll be info because the Pioneer Valley Electric Automobile Association, they're there with electric vehicles and information. They are there to encourage their enthusiasts and they're there to encourage people to pursue. EVs. So they will have information, but I think the idea of doing something online in addition for one of your education series is a great idea. And you absolutely should do that. I mean, people are interested. People here are interested. You know, we talk about it a little bit, but because it is, I mean, but again, nothing is finalized really right now. And you won't, it doesn't make sense to do anything till after March, till we are up a clear idea of what the tax information incentives are and credits are. And again, having someone like from green energy consumers alliance would be great because they'll be really on top of it. Lori. I'm sitting here as fast as I can trying to find, I just saw a very good in the last three months, I was at a very good presentation on. Electric vehicles that went over all of this stuff and I, I just can't find the link. I think it might have been green energy consumers alliance though, which, which would make sense. So there may already be a seminar out there just waiting for us to either share or tap somebody into, I'll try to find it Stella and I'll send it to you if I can find it. I'm sure there's a recording of it somewhere. I will send it over. This was on the inflation reduction act, correct. And Howard applies. Was it about that? No, no, it was just on electric vehicles. Well, specifically. Well, electric bike vehicles in the inflation reduction act. Right. I have a link. I'll send it to you. And you can confirm it and send it over to everybody. I just emailed it to you. I'll send it to you. I'll send it to you. All right. All right. Thanks. And still I sent a word for certain templates as well. Great. Thanks. Okay. I lost my agenda. Oh, staff updates. It's probably the next one. So Stephanie, go ahead. Sure. Okay. So let's see. The solar assessment is moving along. It's, he's part of the tech group that's been meeting. And so. We've been looking at some sort of draft maps. That identify sort of the feasibility for the town. All broken down by very specific parameters. And I know Dwayne will give it more of an update next time. So I don't want to say too much, but that process is moving forward. As you know, the initial solar survey that was sent to you. Was very much a draft and it was. Intentionally very simple and intentionally. You know, very sort of sparse, because it was looking for input from this committee. The other committee, the solar bylaw working group as well as department heads. So there was enough feedback that will really help sort of. Really refine that survey so that the next one, I think we'll reflect a lot of the input that was given. So I want to say that when we do these types of things, the initial draft is always meant to get your feedback. So I think sometimes people react very strongly to those, but it's not, it wasn't anywhere near what the end result would be. The guide, the idea was to get, you know, to get input on what was presented. So thank you for that. The strategy now is to get your feedback incorporated into a community engagement protocol. And then we will share that with both you and the solar bylaw working group. And then. Adrian would be scheduled to be on your agenda for January 18th for your next meeting. And then she'll also be scheduled to meet with the solar bylaw working group on Friday, the 20th. To do that. And then we'll share that with both you and the solar bylaw working group. And then Adrian would be scheduled to be on your agenda for January 18th. And then we'll share that with the solar bylaw working group on Friday, the 20th to discuss the revised draft and draft and the outreach. And you'll have more opportunity to give her feedback. And she'll discuss some of the rationale behind what she's working on. Steve, I know you see your hand up. So. Yeah, it would be helpful, Stephanie, with the second draft of that survey, if there was a bit of an introduction that would not, that would explain to us what the intended. Goals are and the intended breadth of the survey. Because when I, some of my comments on that or might some of my confusion on that survey was. Partly because I wasn't sure based on the questions that were provided. What they were trying to get from the public, like what the goals of the survey were. So if that can be expressed to us, to those of all of us who will be reviewing this next set of questions that might help us. Focus our feedback in a way that can help the questions meet the overall goals. So I think that was one of the revisions that Adrian is making based on your comments. We discussed it. So she's going to include, I think that also one thing that wasn't, you know, again, because we just wanted you to sort of focus on the survey. The survey is actually going to also be part of a website. That's going to have resources and lots of other information. So they're putting together a website for this, for the community. We're also going to be utilizing engage Amherst for feedback and input. So there's, you know, there's actually going to be a lot more. It's not just the survey. That's a piece of it. So, and a lot of the explanation that you're referring to, Steve will actually be on that page. But, but again, if somebody is only looking and getting the survey, yes, it would be absolutely useful for them to have some kind of introductory paragraph to that survey. So she is going to include that, I believe, and I'm going to make sure, you know, if it's not on there, I'll make sure, because I'll get it before you do. That it does get good. Yeah, it'd be really nice if we could see kind of hope the whole big picture strategy of the information gathering approaches that they are using. And that's what you're getting for the next meeting. That's, so that's, that's what I'm talking about when I say the engagement protocol. That's what I'm referring to. Okay. So you're going to get the, the revised survey as well as the protocol so that you can sort of have a look and see what has been discussed and what's been identified so far as a way to engage the public. And then you all can provide comment. But the idea is to, let's see, sorry, I'm looking at my, I want to look at my notes. Stephanie, while we're thinking through that, I think it'll be also good for us to possibly look at that strategy and shamelessly mooch that off and implement that and the PACE program and. You know, I mean, there's something that we can look into there as well, right?  Kind of modeled a bit up on what we've done before with the MPP outreach and with the, with some of the. Carp development work and that we want to provide translation. We want to have childcare. We want to have food. We want to do it at places where people, you know, people are the ideas really to sort of target. And so, you know, specific people who don't typically attend these things to ensure that we're getting some real. Breath and diverse feedback and then it's not just the sort of usual people who attend the meetings and. Would normally want to engage and communicate their feelings or thoughts about this. We want to make sure we're really targeting. Everyone and doing this in an equitable engaged. And so, you know, I think we should all be part of it. And, you know, yes, I, I think absolutely we should be doing more of this. And I just, I'm sorry. I just wanted to say that. The idea was to get the revert the revised survey. Finalized by late January. And then we would get it out. You know, sometime in late January to get it out to the public, but we'd have some mid to late February schedule meetings. And then we would get it out to the public. And then we would get it out to the public. And then we would get it out to the folks. So. Oops. Sorry. That's Andrew is reaching out to me. So yeah, I think we want to make sure that we get, you know, this, all of this feedback done by the end of January. And then beginning of. February is when we would start having the meetings and. Doing more of that direct engagement. And Stephanie, you've included Martha's comments as well. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that was sent through the, that's the solar bylaw working group. I don't. Yeah. Yeah. Dwayne can address that. I. Okay. And I think it shouldn't have been sent to you. Quite frankly. Sorry. Anything else, Stephanie. I think that's kind of the big thing for now. I'm, you know, working on sort of the heat pump. I'm working on that. I'm working on that. I'm working on that. Program development. As I mentioned with Lori. I'm working with the town's finance director on the greenhouse gas. Fleet inventory. I've had a meeting with the consultant about. Establishing the dashboard. What else? Festival. We're also working with the vendors. Well, the festival always. Yeah. That's kind of, I gotta get in. I've got to get an email out, but I already have sort of a group of people, I have a group of folks. I'm going to get the word out about the festival for folks. So yeah, there's that. So those are the. Some of the things I'm working on. There's other things too, but that's just the, some of the stuff that jumps out at me at the moment. What's the date of Earth Day this year? When is the festival April 22nd? Last year we had a booth I think and I was out of town or something but I'd be happy to volunteer to do that this year. I think we should. We didn't have it last year we haven't had it for since 2019 was the last one that we held. Well we had something last year where people did a booth maybe we did something this well last year was the downtown Amherst something the block party it was the block party. We're going to have a booth or something there maybe we should be talking about that at one of these meetings so we're not planning at the last second. Right completely right. Yeah. That'd be great. Well what if one of you wanted to be identified for sort of coordinating that with the committee, you just have to let me know and then you would be on the vendor list and then every time I send information out. It would go to you. I know I want to sign up for it, sign me up for it, but I'm going to be in India from March 17 to April 21. So, but I'll be there on our day. A lot of the information happens in that time frame. Yeah, so maybe not. I might be able to do it I'm just trying to get my calendar up here to make sure that there's nothing that conflicts. Give me a moment. Sure. April. Right past it April 22nd. I think I can, I can volunteer for that to take that role. Okay, that's after Passover. We're good. Yeah, it's just that I know you also have the heat pump program there's going to be a lot of work that's being done. I wonder if we can ask Laura. Yeah, let me let me ask Laura. I'll say tentatively Lori but that you'll ask Laura. Yeah.  So she knows. Something at this point is mostly, you know, talking to Stephanie once in a while and maybe putting together a panel and seeing where that goes.  It's okay. All right, then I won't ask Laura. Thanks Lori. Okay. Thanks for your updates. Jesse. So the new building code for residential buildings took effect today and for commercial buildings will take effect on July 1. And I think there's some potential opportunities that I would be happy to spearhead as far as in particular, and this is actually sort of an offer slash question maybe for Stephanie and or, you know, want to connect with our building inspectors who've got a great building department here in town they're very sophisticated. But this code has no concurrency and so it's what what we're trying, you know what we, the way I would think about there's something called code delamination which means there's the intent of the code and particularly around energy and then there's what actually gets built and installed and does it does do projects actually live up to the code. And again, particularly when it comes to carbon and energy and so if there is a way that this group could maybe formally encourage the town manager or the building department to make use of the multitude of trainings that are hitting the streets right now and really understand what's going on so that's one piece of it the other piece is at the town is now allowed to opt into a net zero building code we're already part of the stretch code that out man comes over and so do we should consider maybe as a group if we want to encourage the town council to adopt the specialized building code. So, there's no rush on either of these things but I think I'd be happy to sort of if writing a letter to the town manager that then this group looks at or something like that is the way to do it stuff and I'd be happy to do that as far as the trainings and what not. And the other thing I'll just say is the codes getting better you guys and they're even have some pretty nifty stuff about existing buildings and requiring work on existing buildings to kind of if you're doing real work on even a residential building you'll have to improve the envelope and mechanical systems so there's a lot of neat stuff there. I'm still learning about it so that's my pitch Stephanie what do I do. So are you guys already on top of this over town hall. Actually real quick I emailed this to Anna today and we were having a conversation, because it's the goal town managers goal setting time, and she said this this home rule. She didn't think it would be appropriate for that to be part of town manager goals, but she did want us to discuss that and she wants to understand what it could look like so I think she wants to review it with us at some point so whatever we bring up and she can then take it to the council but she didn't think it would be appropriate for the town manager schools this year at least so Stephanie. And here, I just want to clarify that this specialized net zero stretch code is not about home rule. It is the existing options for building code we don't need any special permission, except our own. So I was going to sort of say what Andra said is that it's just the specialized code just needs to be voted in by the town council. So I think but and I know that our building inspectors are great about the education piece I mean I think they, you know when codes are updated they attend information sessions so I and education sessions about that so I think they're in all of that but I would say that you know the specialized code is something I think that's a little because it's a bit beyond obviously the revised stretch code that's just been enacted now. I do think it's worth having a conversation with folks here about what the implications of that would be in terms of implementing that because you know I think they just need to. I think it's good to sort of get their feedback on that. Yeah, can someone fill me in I did not read the latest flurry of emails from be a did the new stretch code include net zero, allowing us to do it at zero or is something changed that I was unaware of. There's the stretch code and then there's a specialized code that sort of takes it to a deeper level. I think that's the one I don't. And maybe Andrew I mean I again I'm sort of I haven't looked at it recently and there's a lot in my head right now. So, but I don't know that it's not the home rule petition it's not the same thing that was going for. This is the state level. Yeah, this is a kind of turnkey thing for any town so there's the base building code, which is, there's only like 50 towns left in the state that still use that and then there's the stretch code. Closer to 300 towns, and then the net zero or specialized code, essentially any town meeting or town council essentially just writes a bylaw to say yes we want, you know, they just you just decide to do it and then you have a series of energy requirements that are net zero ish.  I think this is more. It's not. Tell me if I'm wrong but I thought that it was more on a, you know the specialized code allowed you but not necessarily required you to. I think that might be the difference and I don't know I could have that wrong, but I seem to recall some kind of component. Yes, you can hear me. Specialized stretch code was legislated. Last, you know, like two years ago. The beginning of 2021. 2020. They finally came out with it and it is really way better and we activists wish it went farther, but the effect of it will be that it's going to encourage any town, any developer to up their anti because if they work in any of the towns that adopt it. They're going to know, you know, what what needs to be done and I think it's going to have a broader effect even if it's not adopted by a lot of places. But it isn't up. There's a, there's a pretty good summary video about all this, which it's about an hour long but if you watch it at double time it's, it's more you can get through it. And then that's a Stephanie. And I think they would just sort of bring us all up to speed it just, and then maybe watching that and Stephanie, if you think there's anything this group should do. As far as encouraging the town council to move in that direction, it may or may not be the right fit for this town. I think it might be super fun to hear from the building department, like how they're tackling these new regulations. I'll give you the link it's it's it's a sort of dated video but I think it'll really help. Yeah, Andrew had started to talk about this a while ago. I had talked to Andrew and then Andrew had talked to started to talk to you all about it. But I think we, there wasn't like a, we didn't have a lot of information that you all got that evening in particular but I, you know, I definitely think now is the time yes you absolutely should be looking at this. I would say but again I do want to be, you know, as someone who works here I want to be respectful of how this would impact, you know, the, the way the current the inspectors and building inspectors currently have to deal with the existing stretch code and how this might change what they do. Whether it is the right fit for the town but again I think you all, you know, your role is to help encourage these kind of things happening in town so I wholly support you doing more investigation and outreach to whoever about it. And I'm happy to set something up I mean, even Jesse if you wanted to, you know, I could maybe try to have a meeting with you in the, you know, maybe the building commissioner I'd be happy to try to set something up for you to have a discussion. Yeah, I would love to hear how they're approaching this. And, and if they're what their challenges are because they might have, they're going to have there's challenges when you know, especially when a new code is adopted. There may be things we can do to help make it easier make, you know, we're already reaching out to all these people about heat pumps and pace. I think this is another bullet on that same list of hey there's a new stretch code takes effect today for residential and takes effect July 1 for commercial and, and we can. This is to make it easier and create the path of least resistance to do great work, or better work. So we want to support that this would not be a, this would be a collaboration and support mission, not a, hey make sure you're doing your job. The stretch code piece I think is there on top of I don't think that's going to is that is an issue but I think the specialized code is something different and I think my understanding too is when they voted in they also have a grace period of implementation for people who are opting up so and that's how they did it. That's how they, the state sort of approached it with the stretch code initially when you voted it you had a grace period before it was actually implemented. Yeah, so right now, the upgrades to the scratch road do not have a concurrency period. No, I'm not but I'm talking about the specialized code I'm not talking about the stretch. The specialized code when they voted in, I believe there can be a grace period so that it's not something that happens automatically that they have some time with which to know. Yeah, no, I think it's like these six to 12 months after that right exactly takes effect. Yeah, yes, exactly. Yeah, so that's what I'm saying. I mean, the earliest this town could have the specialized code. If it was a good fit. It seems the earliest would likely be January 1. 24. Yes, exactly. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Just to contextualize the timeline. Anyway, so Jesse. So Jesse, what do you propose we watch the video. We bring the building commissioner or somebody else to discuss pros and cons of the stretch and the specialized stretch code and then we vote as ECAC to whether we want to move forward with it or not, and make a recommendation. Yeah, and I think the move forward would be to write a letter of support to the town council or to the town manager or whatever direction that goes to say, you know, we've reviewed this we've talked to the building official. This is this is our recommendation that go like taking four months or something to do that would be fine. I mean, Stephanie, if you think an initial kind of informal conversation with Rob would make sense. I would be super excited to hear his take on all this. Yeah, I think it would be a good idea to report back. As an architect, I think you're a great person for him to talk to you about it so I'd be happy to try to coordinate that. Awesome. All right, I'll send a bit link to the video. Thanks, Jesse. So just to acknowledge that under probably knows more about this than I do spend pushing for it for she's one of the people that made all this happen. It just happened all all of the practitioners it's landing in our lap today, because now it's now it's the new rules and we didn't pay attention to all the good work that went into this we're just now we have we're now we're going to follow the good rules so thank you. Okay, any other ECAC member updates. All right, let's talk about the items for the next meeting agenda then so we'll have. So not the education series next week. So we'll just talk heat pumps and solar. Anything else that we want to cover Lori I know we talked about the festival planning we want to just kick off and do some brainstorming around what we want to do. Yeah, I think we should do that spend some time about a little bit. And you're going to have Adrian as a guest speaker presenter. Well, I shouldn't say guest speaker. She's going to talk to you about the solar survey and outreach. Yeah. Yeah, and then just see I have an action here for the specialized stretch code. We'll be discussing that next time but yeah, watch the video and then figure out. Right, I think maybe we should have an assignment of watching that video because I certainly need to understand that. Steve. Yeah, for that solar update, a couple of meetings ago last month, we looked over the spreadsheet that Dwayne had put together to help us sort of get a better estimate is to the acreage of the amount of solar that the town would need under different scenarios I think that's a really important discussion and I'm not sure what the appropriate timeframe for having that is, but I think it will take some meeting time to go through that. So the goal eventually is that we will come up with a recommendation fairly formally that will pass along to town manager that can then help to shape the discussions, including the solar byline development. And make sure that whenever the appropriate time is we have enough time to go through that calculation to explain it understand it, and then talk about it and reach a consensus on what our recommendations are do that exercise. Okay. Steve, just build on that. Sorry, I tried to get my hand up but yeah, absolutely. Steve, and if if memory serves me from previous meeting. There are a couple updates that I as a first step. There's a couple updates I want to do, including adding into the spreadsheet where what we currently have installed in Amherst that we can take credit for already. And I guess, just to tee this up, Steve and everybody is that as we think about the recommendation and so forth, or, or how we might want to use this tool to both allow other people to do their own analysis with it, but also to use it to come up with a consensus recommendation from ecac. My sense is that we might want to do that somewhat in concert with the mapping exercise that's going on. They kind of work with each other or inform each other. To some extent you want to do that separately, you know what's our goals what's our vision, without knowing what we have at the same time I think we have to also, you know maybe take into account the resource we have, or resources we have in terms of the technical potential, and so that can be part of the discussion as well. I think in that that that the consultants are working on that, and also importantly do recognize that the mapping exercise in the conversations with the consultant we're really trying to view that and make that sort of an apolitical analysis. It's just, you know, what makes where things lie or end up with regard to more or less technical potential, scrubbing out certain areas that are off limits for various different sort of non political reasons it doesn't really get into where people want to run solar or or prefer this type of place or this type of place. It's more, what is the availability of land and the suitability of land around Amherst land and built environment around Amherst. It's sort of on a one to 10 scale type of thing in terms of suitability, but all with regard to suitability for for non preference sort of issues but more in terms of the physical characteristics and area parts of land that are already off limits. I just wanted to point out that if you're trying to do this in a timely fashion before the solar by log it's developed. That's do may 30th. Yeah, so you'll probably want to get this well in advance, I guess. Yeah I think I mean next next in two weeks or whenever we meet next I think I should be able to pull together through the updates on the spreadsheet and and the. I have a somewhat at a date but it's probably hasn't changed too much except for the make sure the landfill and I think Hickory Hickory Ridge I have in there as well in terms of proposed or expected capacity installed in Amherst but I'll get that up to date with the latest data there's probably been, you know, a few more kilowatts of residential projects as well. And when you're just focusing on everything but the institutions correct. Yeah, exactly, exactly. Yeah, I think when I search the databases, the everything in Amher shows up and I'll scrub out the institutions yeah. Yeah, I think just my main point is that's going to be a probably a fairly lengthy discussion and I will advocate that we do what we need to meet the Massachusetts 2050 goals as a separate thing from what we think we can have based on land use guidelines. I see those as two separate issues. I think they're going to be far apart, but that's a problem we're going to have to deal with. Yeah. Let's just make sure we schedule plenty of time in the near enough future to get to allow us to make a recommendation that can help shape the solar bylaw. Yeah, I think I mean it's more than an update it's more of a concentrated discussion item on this as a as a whole not just me providing an update so maybe maybe in two weeks I can provide an update and sort of get the spreadsheet up to snuff and then maybe the next time after that. If time allows to have a substantial agenda item on on getting review input and discussion on it. That would be February 1 when you have that. Oh, sorry. You're, you're having your six o'clock voice. I was going to say that that I think that's really important I think that should be our focus for the next couple of meetings I don't have not going to have anything else to say on heat pumps next time so you can just take that off I mean this is not right now. So, I think the solar I think we should give Duane as much time as he needs. Put that front and center. Yeah, that's what I was going to say. Yeah, Adrian is a guest speaker right so. Yeah, let's do that. Yeah, I was going to suggest we can drop festival the planning brainstorm but yeah if you don't have any updates for heat pump. What I can do right now is I can just ask people to please send, you know, ideas about festival planning and if we have five minutes maybe we can do it but I don't know this time if we do it in a month I don't think it'll tell us. So the update for, well yeah, the progress report next week is going to be solar anyway so Duane you might as well take the entire time. Yes. And then we'll still talk about the festival planning. Yeah, yeah. Okay. Anything else that we want to cover. So I also have when we're watching the stretch code video. We won't be discussing it this week or sorry the next meeting but we will talk about it the week after or the meeting after so the first meeting in February to see what that work. Okay, so we have two to two one. So watch the video before to one, and also an urgent action on giving feedback to Stephanie and Don about the pace. And I emailed you all the document. Okay. Anything else. We have one one person in the public so let's open it up for comments. You have anything you want to say. No, can you hear me weekend. Thank you know I've just been listening in it's been interesting and no, all good work and I've learned a lot today so thank you for asking but I'm, I'm just here to listen and thanks. Dave, could you tell everyone who you are just in case anyone doesn't know. Sure. This is Dave Zomek. I'm the assistant town manager I work closely with Stephanie and Rob more our building commissioner. Chris Brestrup our planning director and of course support the town manager and the council in in their goals so I touch a lot of different projects in Amherst from the North Common to conservation efforts to Hickory Ridge and other and and many more so never a dull moment, but happy to listen in for the last hour or two on on all the good work you're doing. Thank you for joining. Andra. Yeah, I just wanted to hear me. Thanks. I am. I'm sorry. Oh, the, the CCA. No, the joint powers entity is very, very, very, very close to being launched. The Valley Green Alliance, it's called, and that's Northampton Amherst and Pellum joint effort to reduce our greenhouse gases, and one of its major charges will be running the electricity aggregation. And we will be needing community representatives for the community advisory committee. And we're hoping to have it be, you know, both from diverse parts of our population. So just want to put it out there. And to our radio listeners and to you. Yeah, we're close. I also just want to acknowledge that we had a loss in the Amherst community. One of our green architects died over the weekend. And I'm not sure if it's going to be the same or if it's, it'll really be missed. I hadn't heard that. Really sad news. Yes, it's really quite terrible. That's shocking. She, for those of you who didn't know her she just a staunch advocate for sustainability for community. And I think it's a great opportunity to work in this town and other places, both professionally and beyond. Yeah, thank you for bringing that up. That's, it's really, it's quite a loss to the town. That's really sad. Thanks for letting us know. Here's a member of the co housing community up in North Amherst and I'm affiliated with a number of people there and it's a big loss for them directly as well. Okay, anything else. Okay, thank you all for your time. And make sure you complete the two actions please. The pace flyer being the priority. I'll send action items after this meeting. Thanks. Bye.


We can find cubes using Nicolam method as well and this method involves finding a base as well as a Vice base, that's what I would like to call it. So let's see what this involves really So let's say a is the original number that is being given to us to find the cubes So let's say this is 32 and we are interested in finding the cube of 32 So our question is basically to find out cube of 32 So I'm writing a for actual number and there will be base and base is the multiple of the power of 10 Which is nearest to this actual base and this is 30 here and then we divide this base by 10 and we write the vice base and This vice base is going to be 3. So if the base was 40, so let's say if this base was 40 this vice base would be 34 and this if this was 70 then vice base would be 7 So in this case because the base is 30 our vice base is 3 Now answer for the cube of 32 will be found in three parts This is the right most part which will be a one digit number Because the base has one zero in it This part also will be a one digit number and if there are more digits in the right most part in the middle part We will carry the remaining part towards left. So what is the right most part? Right most part is a cube of deviation D and this deviation is given by the number minus The base and in this case it is 2. So we will write cube of 2 Let's look at the left most part the left most part is found by taking the actual number, which is a or 32 here plus 2 times D and D is 2 in this case Let me just write 2 times the square of the vice base something like this and so in this case it will be a which is 32 plus 2 times deviation which is 2 and then we'll complete the bracket times vice base, which is 3 and square and This gives us 36 times 9. That is 324 so let's write 324 here now. What about the middle part? Let me just erase this section So that we have good space for the middle part the middle part is calculated as follows It is given by three times square of the deviation Times the vice base and in this case it will be times the vice base and in this case It will be three times a deviation is 2 so it's square times vice base Which is 3 and this will be 9 times 4 36 it's right 36 here and The right most part we have already written. It's 2 cubes. So it's 8. There is no carry That's overflowing to the left-hand side But in here because we can only place one digit this 3 will flow as a carry to the left-hand side So in the middle part, we won't have 36 But we will simply have 6 and this 3 will flow towards left and this will be 324 plus 3 And we won't have this 3 so now We have 327 then the next part is 6 and then it's 8 and so this is the cube of 32 And this is how we can complete cube using nickel method of cubes


Ruger American competition. Ruger Americans the best series of semi-auto handguns that Ruger has ever developed. I think they're great and I own several. The five-inch barrel it has lightning cuts in there, additional palm swells, fiber optic front sight, adjustable rear sights, clearly optic ready, ambi controls, and 17 round magazines. A flat trigger with a safety in there. And I've always enjoyed this since the day I got it. It's been very reliable.


for exemplary technical expertise within their rating. Superior administrative skills and strong leadership ability. Most importantly chiefs bridge the gap between officers and enlisted personnel. Acting as supervisors as well as advocates for their sailors. Today we celebrate the 131st birthday by honoring the man who established the Master Chief Petty Officer Rape, Delbert D. Black. For his dedication of service and lasting impact to the Navy, our sailors and their families. This exceptional leader was born in Oro, Oklahoma and joined the Navy in March of 1941. He served aboard multiple operational platforms and short assignments during his 30 years of service. Upon retirement from active duty in 1971, McPon Black continued to serve the Navy through retired and active duty organizations. Today we further recognize his historic career and leadership by dedicating a seven mile portion of Interstate 35 located in Love County. I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize a few of our guests as we are extremely pleased to have or distinguished guests. Senator Chris Kidd, Representative Josh Cantrell, the 16th Master Chief Petty Officer of Navy James M. Honey, Love County District Commissioner Linda Hyman, Department of Transportation Representative Vicki Adams, Commodore Strategic Communications Wing One, Captain Britt Whidler, Strategic Communications Wing One Command Master Chief Jake Stovall, Fleet Master Chief of Personnel, Dale Terrell, U.S. Delbert Black Command leadership, Takamo leadership, military guests, friends and of course, McPon Black family. We also like to thank Takamo alumni for their selfless donations and Rose State College for allowing us to host this event on their campus. And of course, Mr. Bob Holland, without your support, today's recognition cannot have been possible. Thank you for all. Thank you all for being here today. Please join me in a warm welcome for all our guests today. As we honor the very first Master Chief Petty Officer of Navy, we must also give homage to our current McPon. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honey. He began his Navy career in 1987. After completing basic training, he reported to his first command the USS John A. Moore as a Boson's mate. He progressed through the ranks while serving on board five ships culminating 20 years of sea service and three shore assignments. He has continued to develop Navy leaders through his Command Master Chief Tours at Naval Support Activity South Potomac, U.S. Navy Forces Korea, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Fifth Fleet and Fleet Command Master Chief Tours at U.S. Pacific Fleet and Indo-Pacific Command. His sacrifice and dedication duty has carried on the legacy that the McPon Black established by focusing his priorities on warfighting competency, professional character development and quality of life to ensure Navy stays uniquely positioned to strengthen integrated deterrence, defend freedom, preserve economic prosperity, and keep seas open and free. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce the 16th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James M. Honey. Well, good morning. How's everybody feeling today? Good. I am as well. I'm extremely honored to be here with all of you and I thank you, Senator Kidd, Representative Cantrell, and Commissioner Hyman for being here, as well as the Road State College for Host and this dedication. And thank you to everyone for joining us today to honor the life and legacy of the Navy's first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Delbert D. Black. Born a farm boy, or Oklahoma, Del Black was determined to get off the farm and join the Navy at a young age of 18. Like myself, he was attracted to a life of adventure and to see the world that the Navy offered. Well, he knew the farm life was not for him. He gave him a work ethic that guided him throughout his career. Del said that the Navy was his first wife and Ima was his second. Ima understood this and fully supported him throughout his career and the Navy is indebted to them both for their commitment to service. Del's propensity to serve not just the Navy, but his sailors was unparalleled. He was a fierce warrior that was tempered in battle and drew from his experiences to develop a unique leadership style that earned him the reputation being a sailor's sailor. This carried him throughout his 21 years of sea assignments and six shore assignments. In interviews, he said that after the war, leadership roles and practices began to creep in that detracted from the efficiency and morale of commands. Committee officers were beginning to rule with iron fists and making decisions for sailors that Navy regulations said sailors could be making for themselves. As he developed into a leader, Del leaned into the philosophy that listening to your sailors was the key to being a successful leader. He fully believed that being approachable, humble, and invested into your sailor's well-being is the foundation of good leadership. Well, Montpain-Black showed up to assume the duties as the Navy's top senior enlisted advisor. He did not know immediately if he would ever find a leader who felt the enlisted service members deserve a seat with executive leadership. Montpain-Black was prepared to fight for and earn that right to be heard and share the story of our sailors and their families. He quickly learned to leverage every opportunity to achieve positive outcomes for the enlisted sailor. He consistently rose to the challenge of winning over those who either did not believe or could not conceive of what it was he could do for them. In doing so, he submitted a legacy that 15 successive Mcponds have had the grateful opportunity to enjoy. Service to the nation is a great honor. There are challenges, barriers, and sacrifice that only those who served and their families can fully understand. Some of the issues Del faced then remained prevalent today, cementing the need for the enlisted voice to continue to be heard so that we can, as a Navy, remain the dominant warfighting force. Del fully realized the value of the experience and technical mastery enlisted sailors provide to the Navy. During his time as Mcpond, he oversaw the establishment of the senior enlisted advisor position, which eventually became known as the Command Master Chief. The creation of the crew counselor's community, expanding uniform wear guidance, increased in sea pay, and civilian clothing being allowed on ships were just a few initiatives that helped boost the retention and career advancement in a time that the Navy was losing manpower. Del Black was a great mentor and friend to the Mcponds that the honor of knowing him. He was a good listener. He loved life and enjoyed a good joke. But most of all, he personified the Navy's core values that we covet as sailors. Del Black forged the anchors that I wear today as the 16th Mast Chief Putt Officer Navy. I seek to be the kind of chief that Del Black would have been proud to welcome into his mess, to be a chief that not focuses on self, but on the 347,000 sailors of whom it is my honor to serve every day. Del noted it was a love and support of his beloved wife, Ima, that allowed him to continue to serve. No one knew Del better than Ima. She was his support that allowed him to continue his naval career. Ms. Ima has continued to be the support, the confidant and mentor to each of us Mcponds.  I hope you know, as you're watching today, that you feel the pride, honor, and unwavering gratitude for the support you gave to Del, Mcponds, and all sailors and families in the Navy. I am grateful that the state of Oklahoma has recognized one of their own sons by dedicating a portion of his home state to Del as a leader and a lasting Navy legend. And thank you. Thank you, Mcpond. Honi. Today's dedication is no small feat. One woman in particular has sacrificed countless hours to ensure today's event came to fruition. Commissioner Linda Hyman of Love County. She assumed duties in 2013 as the first female Oklahoma District two Love County Commissioner. She specializes on the maintenance and construction of county roads and bridges. She also serves on the board of county commissioners, which is the chief administrative office of the county. She was instrumental identifying which portion of Interstate 35 would be dedicated to Mcpond Black. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Commissioner Hyman. I want to thank you for inviting me to come to this ceremony. And I want to thank each and every one of you that is in the service for your service. I would be in my board of county commissioners meeting. So it's a strike against me for not being there at home today. But I told him I was doing my service to the state of Oklahoma. This has been a challenge for me for three and a half going on four years. When I first got a phone call from a gentleman that said he was with the Navy identified himself and said we want to do something for Master Chief Black. I'm not a native Oklahoma and I'm from California. So I didn't know anything about chief master Black. So I had to do my research as well. So we talked, we had a conversation in 20. Then everything went kind of dark. So I put my folder in my office drawer and said okay well maybe we'll hear from him again because nothing happened at that time. So a year went by and I received another phone call but not from the same gentleman. It was someone else with the Navy. And they continued to say we want to do something for Master Chief Black. And I said are you aware that there is already a marker on Oswald Road where he was raised as a child? No, we didn't know that. So I took pictures, sent it to him. Then it went quiet again. Didn't hear anything else but COVID came along. And then I heard from Jonathan Rick who got on the phone with me and we decided what we wanted to do at that point. And it seemed to take forever, didn't it, Jonathan? So he told me what he would like to do. So I got in touch with ODOT, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, and said how do I go, you know, how do I start? And I said well you'll have to contact your senator. So then I contacted the senator and said this is what we want to do. We want to dedicate a stretch of interstate highway to Master Chief Black. So you know how government is, you got to take a week to do this and three weeks to do that. But we finally accomplished it. Senator Kidd put a bill in and it went through all the cycle and in 23 we finally got that task accomplished. So here we are today and it's my pleasure to be here and I look forward to the sign being up on the highway by the time I head home, right? Thank you very much. Thank you for being here today, Ms. Hyman. Today's evolution has been a culmination of trials and errors since June of 2020. It wasn't until November of 2022 when Chief Operations Specialist Jonathan Ricks, a former SCW one teammate reached out to Commissioner Hyman about the best way to recognize Mid Pond Black and a formal plan was developed. The conversation led to the agreement that the Memorial Highway dedication was the best course of action. And on 30 November 2022, Commissioner Hyman reached out to Senator Kidd and the Department of Transportation request the highway memorial and complete the required paperwork on 5 December 2022. Commissioner Hyman and Chief Ricks complete the process to dedicate the seven mile stretch of I-35 to Senator Kidd's office. On February 23rd of 2023, Commissioner Hyman was notified that state bill 953, the highway memorial bill passed through onto the floor and the bill was included in the omnibus bill, state bill 300, laying the groundwork for approval of the resolution during the 2023 regular legislative session. At this time, can I ask McPon Hone and Commissioner Hyman to come to the stage. Resolution number 15, a resolution honoring the life of Navy Veteran Delbert D. Black, recognizing the historic career of McPon Black, sharing appreciation for his service and dedicating distribution. Now therefore, be it resolved by the Senate of the first session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature. The Oklahoma State Senate honors the life extraordinary military career and achievements of Navy Veteran McPon Delbert D. Black. The Oklahoma State Senate extends sincere appreciation for his outstanding service to our country adopted by the Senate the 11th day of May 2023. Thank you, McPon Hone and Commissioner Hyman. We are honored to have so many members of McPon Black's family here with us today. Retired Colonel Gary Wallace is the nephew of McPon Black. Colonel Wallace was born near or Oklahoma and his mother is McPon Black's sister, the oldest of nine children, McPon Black being the youngest. Colonel Wallace served as an aircraft maintenance officer in the Air Force for 23 years and retired in December of 1989. Throughout his career, especially as a young officer, Colonel Wallace greatly benefited from the discussion, discussions and guidance he received from his uncle on leadership. Mentorship and management in the US military is now my distinct honor to introduce McPon Black's nephew, retired Air Force Colonel Gary Wallace. So before we get started, let me make a little comment. This is the fourth or the fifth ceremony that I've attended. The other four, my Aunt Ima was the one that addressed the crowd. I'm a very poor substitute for Ima Black, but I'm going to give it a shot. All right. So McPon Commissioner, Representative, our distinguished military leadership here, members of the Chief Petty Officer mess locally here. Ladies and gentlemen, but I'm going to add two other groups here that I wasn't aware of. This morning for coffee, I met two crew members of the USS WD Black. We appreciate you coming up from Mayport, being part of this ceremony. And the last but probably the real VIPs in this room are all the young sailors and airmen that are sitting back here because you're the future of the Navy.  So to get started here, let me say the family members of Delbert Black with me here today. And those not here and by the way, this is just a small part of Delbert Black's family and there's about to 25 or 30 here. There's far more than that. But we want to express our appreciation to all the organizations and individuals that helped set up this event. We've taken great pride in Uncle Dale's accomplishments in his Navy career. So instead of going over his Navy career, I want to make a few comments about those young years between one and 18. What it was like growing up in Southern Oklahoma, which is the foundation for Del Black achieving what he did. But first I did a little short reflection on his family. His mother was born in 1888 in Indian Territory. She wasn't an Indian, but a lot of people farmed and settled in that. His father with his family migrated from Texas in the mid 1890s to Indian Territory. And they met in 1905. They married a year later. They had their first child, which was my mother, and then Del Black was the youngest of the nine. So Uncle Dale proudly said he was a country boy and rightly so. He lived in rural Love County in Southern Oklahoma. A period when you didn't have running water, you didn't have indoor plumbing, and you didn't have electricity. Del Black, Uncle Dale's first electricity was when he joined the Navy in a facility. So he truly was a country boy. Back then, dirt roads were the norm. Few small farm families even had a vehicle. It was a period where the chickens, the livestock, and the garden was your primary source of food. So pretty much everyone was self sufficient. And by the way, that helps someone build a little stability of where they're going for the future if you've developed all that as a young person. Farming and farm labor was the main source of employment for Del Black and his family. And I guarantee you, there were no eight hour days or 40 hour weeks in that. The cotton harvest was so important in Southern Oklahoma at the time that you started the school in July. Because most of the farm labor was in the schoolhouse. So when the cotton harvest was ready, you had a fall break and everybody in school went to the cotton patch and pulled cotton. And by the way, everybody was very happy to do that because that was your primary source of income for the family. So all this life wasn't easy, but it was rewarding. Because you developed the work habits that it took, self motivation, and a strong commitment to the family. But with all of that rural living, didn't offer many post school options. So Uncle Dale made his option to Navy. And that trend began in the family. Nine of his nephews that grew up in rural, rural county, love county at the time, also went into the military. For those nine went to the Navy. By the way, we have two of them here today, I'd like to acknowledge over here, Jerry and Randy Black. Jerry served three tours with the CBs in Vietnam. In Randy, he took a cruise, he was on the destroyer off the coast of Vietnam. So anyway, two Vietnam veterans here for myself. I was commissioned in the Air Force two months before Uncle Dale got the job of Micah Pong. And he offered me brand new second lieutenant some invaluable advice. If I asked you to say what it is. And if you don't come up with the answer, I'd be surprised. Listen to your chiefs. And rightly so, I did. And not only did I listen to that advice. As a second lieutenant, I listened to it more when I was a senior officer, because I think it was more important as a senior officer than it probably was as a second lieutenant. Now, talking about Uncle Dale, I have to say, and I hope you're watching and I'm here. I would be remiss if I didn't add some comments about I'm a black his wife of 50 years. This remarkable lady shared his Navy career and his retirement. But in addition to that, before she met Dale Black, she was a Navy wave and a World War two veteran. So she's a veteran unto herself. As the Navy and other organizations, such as Love County and the state of Oklahoma have continued to honor our uncle. We're extremely grateful and thankful for the wonderful relationship that the Navy has maintained with Aunt Ima. Y'all have treated her like a queen. And we we recognize that. So we appreciate that. And by the way, in about six weeks, Aunt Ima will have her hundred and third birthday party. So I recently talked with Aunt Ima and she asked me to express her appreciation to everyone involved in making this memorial naming of this seven mile strip of Interstate 35 wants to personally thank you. Of note, if you don't know it, I did a little research. This strip from Highway 32 to Highway 70 from Marriott at Artmore, Oklahoma, was constructed in 1967 and 1968, when Dale Black was serving his first two years as McPon. So it was sort of like it was built for him. Yeah. Now, as with the USS Debert D. Black destroyer, which many of the family attended, one or more of the three ceremonies. We don't go to a ceremony and forget we remain engaged. And through social media, we follow that ship's mission and all the crew activities, large number of the family. Accordingly, in the future, when we drive on or comment about this seven mile strip of I 35, be assured we will be reminded of your efforts here today and everyone that contributed to it. Therefore, to the individuals or groups who were involved in the decision to pursue this project, did the legwork and actually making it happen. Coordinated this event. Commissioner install the signs on I 35. We truly appreciate your efforts. For decades and decades ahead, dozens and dozens and dozens of Dale Black's relatives will drive by that sign and say, That's our uncle. And we appreciate being able to do that. So thank you again. And for the active duty and retired members of the military today. The family and I would like to thank all of you for your service. Thank you. Thank you, Colonel Wallace for your words and your service to our country. Big Von Black stated that leadership is an attribute that cannot be issued through supply system or injected by hypodermic needle. It can only come from an acquired set of values, honor, duty, self discipline and dedication to service. This is what today has been about honoring him, the man he was and the legacy is left behind behind for all of us to emulate. I would also like to thank Ms. I'm a black for her support through the although unable to attend in person. She is watching via live stream media. To our other honored guests, this concludes our Memorial Highway dedication ceremony. Your presence here today has truly been special and will be remembered for years to come. Please join us for refreshments and conversation in the back of the room. Thank you for joining us today.