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<br /> <br /> 2 <br />Neal recommended some sort of response to the BOCC indicating the CFE appreciates <br />that feedback and is exploring adding a consideration of social justice in the CFE’s <br />overall charge from the BOCC. <br /> <br />Hintz noted some of the issues raised are in the purview of other advisory boards, such <br />as the Solid Waste Advisory Group (SWAG), the Orange Unified Transportation Board, <br />and Planning Board. O’Connor agreed, adding she does not believe the BOCC will pay <br />attention to what the CFE recommends on matters of solid waste and food composting <br />until the SWAG has had an opportunity to consider and discuss. Sassaman noted the <br />CFE only recommended that it would monitor these issues and support the SWAG. <br /> <br />Hintz suggested the issue of increasing the County’s composting of food waste may be <br />something the CFE should continue to push prior to it being addressed by the SWAG. <br />Sassaman noted that when he served on the former Solid Waste Advisory Board they <br />spent a lot of time on this issue. He agreed there ought to be an increase in volume of <br />food waste collection and composting. Becker noted that Commissioner Jacobs had <br />suggested that the County may want to establish a special composting facility. <br />Sassaman said the current process of collecting food waste, trucking it to Chatham <br />County, and then bringing back the finished product, is inefficient, however establishing <br />a County facility is would require land, machinery, and staff. Sassaman asked that this <br />matter be considered by the land Resources Committee. <br /> <br />Sassaman asked that these and other matters raised by the CFE and BOCC be <br />discussed by the committees when they meet later on the agenda. <br /> <br />VII. Updates and Information Items – Information on the following subjects was provided <br />and selected items were summarized by staff: a) CFE Annual Report and Work Plan <br />(2014-15), b) Orange County resolution on climate change, c) potential for solar energy <br />at County-owned buildings, d) Orange Well Net, e) Chapel Hill’s new incentives for <br />green construction, f) Chapel Hill/Carrboro Schools diverting trash from landfill, g) <br />improvements at the Mason Farm Wastewater Treatment Plant, h) Carrboro’s Energy <br />and Climate Protection Task Force, i) Orange County adopts parks and rec master plan, <br />j) Duke Energy’s plans for removing coal ash from four NC sites, k) Dan River spill <br />damage, l) the USEPA proposes lower ozone standard, and m) the proposed new rules <br />for the permitting of hydraulic fracturing in NC. <br /> <br />VIII. Committee Meetings – The CFE broke out into its standing committees (Air and Energy <br />Resources, Land Resources, and Water Resources) to initiate discussions of issues <br />assigned to each committee. Sassaman asked each committee to prioritize the issues <br />that it would like to work on in 2015 and to identify one spokesperson for reporting back <br />to the full CFE in January and to send its list of prioritized issues to the staff. <br /> <br />IX. Adjournment – Sassaman adjourned the meeting following the committee discussions, <br />at approximately 9:20 pm. <br /> <br /> <br />Summary by Rich Shaw, DEAPR Staff