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Home My WebLink About2016_12_06 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes TOM Sustainability Collaborative 2016.1206 Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative Meeting Notes, December 6, 2016 Attendees: Mitch Green, Nancy Seligson, Steve Altieri, George Roniger, Frank Owens, Beth Radow, Marc Karell, Mark Manley, Neha Dhanik, Sue Odierna, Michele Lewis,Tony Gelber, Kristin Andersen (from Larchmont Environment Committee) Greetings and Call to Order Minutes of November 1st meeting were approved. Quality of Life and Sustainability—Leaf Blowers Further discussion from last month regarding changing the current law so that the judge cannot reduce fines for using leaf blowers during restricted times. As it is now, the law is not a deterrent, but simply the "cost of doing business." Mitch G. and George R. discussed possibility of allowing only low decibel gas-powered(ie quieter)blowers. Kristin A. mentioned reading "Next Door"emails in which Town residents complained about noisy and polluting leaf blowers. Mark M. suggested finding a gardener who would agree NOT to use leafblowers, but to mulch instead and that he could be promoted within the Town. Nancy S. suggested that mulch mowing would be a great initiative to promote to residents as there are greater benefits to this(than quiet leaf blowing to the curb for vehicular transport). Beth R. suggested putting mulching videos on the Town's Enviro Facebook page(this has been done from the Sheldrake festival and also www.leleny.org website videos, but can be posted more frequently). Mark M. suggested you show residents what the lawn looks like a year later to see how mulching turns out. Steve A. suggested letting residents know that Memorial Park(non-field areas) are mulched. Collabs agreed a sign should be posted there, "This area has been mulch mowed..." Action Item 1: Collab to draft and send a letter to the TOM Board, requesting that the current leaf blower law be changed to:a)make the minimum fine$150 for the first offense;b)remove a judge's ability to reduce the fines;c)consider progressively higher mandatory fines for further violations;d)consider placing the names of"repeat offender"gardeners on the TOM website;and e)consider a "three strikes you are out" provision so that repeat offenders face a fundamental consequence to continued flouting of the law. Action Item 2: TOM to purchase, with 2016 Collab budget already ear-marked for this purpose, a gas- powered "Stihl"leaf blower to verify its effectiveness in a variety of weather and moisture conditions. Action Item 3: For the Quiet Leaf Blower Ordinance, a) the Collab will explain to the TOM Board the benefits and ease of enforcement of the quiet leaf blower ordinance, hopefully including a "show and tell"with the Town's Stihl gas-powered leaf blower, as compared to a typical non-labeled gas-powered version;and b) work with the TOM Board to pass the Quiet Leaf Blower Ordinance before Spring 2017. Action Item 4: Noting that the Village of Larchmont Committee on the Environment(VOL COE)supports the Collab's efforts toward a quieter and healthier environment, the TOM Collab should support VOL COE's efforts to align regulations to the greatest extent possible. 1 TOM Sustainability Collaborative 2016.1206 Action Item 5: Beth and Michele are encouraged to develop a "raking"educational program for Spring 2017, which can be demonstrated at a variety of venues and events. Also, George R. identified several parents who felt their teens could be part of a raking program;George is encouraged to give contact info to Beth and Michele. Sustainability Collaborative 2017 Budget Nancy reported that the Town Board will be decreasing the "Collabs"budget from$25,000 to$10,000 since this year the Collaborative spent just$3,000 of the$25,000. However, there are funds in the Town Budget to pay for environmental initiatives such as a Greenhouse Gas(GHG)data program from the organization WegoWise. The Town Budget can also support a summer intern or two such as we had this past summer. Nancy did mention that the Collaborative budget could pay for bike racks at Town Center since the Town Budget does not contain funds for this. Resilient Infrastructure—Green Infrastructure/Town Center Parking Lot/Landscape,etc. Discussion continued from last month's Collab meeting regarding using 2016 Collabs funds to ensure that the Town Center parking lot consists of greener,prettier landscaping, wayfinding,signage. The suggestion to pay landscapers a fee was decided against as the landscapers can give the Town their ideas without a charge. The following process was suggested: RFQ, get ideas in, conduct interviews,short list decided upon,scope,fee, selection. Near-Zero Solid Waste TOM—Plastic Bag Initiative Frank spoke with Steve Wolk of Chappaqua's Sustainability Committee who helped to get New Castle to pass a reusable bag law that takes effect January 1, 2017. Steve told Frank that businesses were initially against it, but they came to support the law, due to cost savings. (Update: we have invited Steve Wolk and another committee member Jennifer Flagg to our January Collabs meeting for additional input and Jennifer has agreed to attend. Subject to be first on agenda.) Also, Nancy and Sue O. met with our own Collabs member Lesley Seymour,writer/editor/marketing guru/sustainability grad student and she has agreed to help us with an educational/marketing piece aimed at vendors and residents to raise awareness about the positives of reusable bags. Lesley will attend the January Collaborative meeting as well.) Near-Zero Solid Waste TOM--Increase Recycling Efforts/Edit Sanitation Guide Neha reported on her progress with the Recyclopedia guide that she is editing for TOM(to be completed June 2017). There are many organizations to contact to get updated and clear information on what can be recycled where. Nancy asked Neha if it would be helpful to have an intern working on this with her and Neha thought it would be. (Potential winter holiday intern to start with TOM late December). Neha also reported on various organizations that offer specific recycling services that the Town could potentially make use of now. For plastic bags and film, the Town could potentially house a collection box at Maxwell Avenue with the organization called WRAPS--www.plasticfilmrecyclinq.orq. Another find: for clothes and just about everything in the house including small appliances(which the Town no longer accepts as E-Waste)residents can contact http://pickupplease.org/acceptable-donations for a pick up from their home; and this scrap metal dealer in Portchester http://www.scrapmiller.com/where residents can drop off any metals. As to the Sanitation Guide, 2 TOM Sustainability Collaborative 2016.1206 Neha is providing input to Steve/Nancy/design consultant Barry Caro to have a better designed guide with more and clarified information. Sue provided Neha with a copy of the VOM sanitation guide and Nancy and Neha liked the "mini recyclopedia" insert that their environmental committee wrote for the guide. Ideally,the TOM guide will have something similar as it is very clear regarding what to recycle and what NOT to recycle. Action Item 1: To educate the TOM Board on her efforts, the Collabs will support Neha's presentation to the TOM Board in January or February concerning her current efforts Action Item 2: (IN PROGRESS)Neha to advise TOM on the 2017 Sanitation Guide—how might we adjust the Guide to increase our recycling rate?What needs to be added to the Guide to help increase TOM's recycling rate? Action Item 3: As part of their continuing collaboration,Sue 0 and Neha to consider how to further publicize the TOM "Recyclopedia,"how it might be included in educational programs at the schools, and how it might be featured at Spring 2017 Environmental Events. Quality of Life and Sustainability--Biking Safety Nancy suggested that Mitch present to the TB regarding the Collaborative's request for$5,000 for the Bike Routes Consultant. The proposal went to the Board for approval at the Dec. 7th meeting and was approved. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20pm. The next meeting will be Tuesday,January 10th at 6pm at the VFW, in the large dining room. 2016 Priority Initiatives—Task Force Leaders • Air& Noise Pollution George R • Walk-able, Bike-able Mamaroneck Stephen M • Improve Water Quality Nancy S, Michele L, Beth R • Maintain & Improve Infrastructure Steve A, Frank 0 • Improve Community Preparedness Tony G • Renewable Energy& Local Energy Frank 0, Marc K, Mitch G • Near-Zero Waste Community Mitch G, Steve A, Neha D • Education &Awareness Michele L, Beth R 3