HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016_06_08 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes TOM Sustainability Collaborative
2016.0608 Meeting Minutes
Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
Meeting Minutes,June 8, 2016, 6PM —8PM,
Attendees: Nancy Seligson, Steve Altieri, Mitch Green, George Roniger, Steve Moser,Tony Gelber, Frank
Owens, Michele Lewis, Beth Radow, Marc Karrell, Mark Manley, Dr. Maurizio Bertini, Interns Zoe
Kaldor and potential intern Natalie Spangle, Sue Odierna
6:10 PM Greetings &Call to Order
6:20 PM Minutes of April 4, 2016 Meeting—Approved (May Minutes were not distributed; they will be
prior to July meeting)
Sustainability—STEMtastic Event
Mitch G. thanked the Collaborative members who worked at STEMtastic. Tony G. used his student's well-
received project to lure parents over to the Sustainability Collaborative booth to talk about Collaborative
initiatives. Mitch G collected names and contact information of residents interested in Collaborative topics.
Most were interested in the rain barrel program,some mentioned bike lanes. (Follow-up: All have been emailed
rain barrel program update--see below—and asked to please "like" our FB page.)
Sustainability—Rain Barrel Update
Discussion about how to continue the rain barrel program. Should Town of Mamaroneck continue to subsidize
cost of barrels? Other towns in Westchester charge more than the$50 we charged our residents. Barrels cost us
approximately$64 per barrel, but their retail price is actually$149.00. Decision was made to order 33 barrels
and diverters. For this round, we will charge residents$60 per barrel and non-residents$65 per barrel. Diverters
of either size will be$10 each for everyone. Barrels will continue to be sold exclusively at the 40 Maxwell Avenue
facility and only on Saturdays. . Sue to order barrels this week. (Follow-up: Barrels received June 17th and sales
started on Saturday,June 18th.)
Sustainability—Leaf Blower Update
Steve A. reported that the Town of Mamaroneck purchased a battery-operated leaf blower to determine its
efficiency. The results were a quiet leaf blower that is not very effective. The leaf blower doesn't have enough
power for TOM needs. Next step is for the Town to try a lower decibel gas-powered leaf blower, the type of quiet
gas-powered leaf blower that George R. has researched. Michele L. asked if we could look into a leaf blower law
that states they could only be used twice a week. Steve A. and Nancy S. mentioned that this is difficult to enforce
and that they prefer George R.'s suggestion that we look into a law allowing only low-decibel leaf blowers.
Mitch suggested we hold an education program in the fall perhaps at the Brook in Larchmont Gardens to
illustrate low decibel leaf blowers. Suggestion was made to call the event a "Leaf In"! A mulch mower was also
thought to be a good item to showcase at this time,particularly as the Town has been interested in acquiring
mulch-mower blades and demonstrating these.
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TOM Sustainability Collaborative
2016.0608 Meeting Minutes
Resilient Infrastructure—Green Infrastructure/Town Center Parking Lot
Steve A. reported that the parking lot designs are not ready yet. They would probably not be complete until the
end of July. (Follow-up: they will be ready to present at the August Collaborative meeting on August 3ra )
Sustainability/Land Use--PACE Training Program/Land Use Leadership Alliance(LULA)
Nancy S. spoke about the LULA program;its history with the Town of Mamaroneck goes back several years to
when they applied to NYSERDA to run the program and Nancy wrote a letter of support in favor of the
workshops. Nancy emphasized how well run and important a program it is and encouraged Collaborative
members to consider attending the four workshops this fall. She is also talking with Planning,Zoning and Town
Board members about registering. The program will run out of Pace Law School in White Plains for four Fridays
(9/23, 10/7, 10/21 & 11/4) and consists of workshops, lectures and breakout sessions to bring about change by
sharing the knowledge of experts who understand the process of adopting local land use legislation. They ask
each community's participants to do an analysis of what is the most important sustainability issue in their own
community. Tony G. suggested a group go from the Village of Mamaroneck as well and that those interested
could participate in a conference call to see what the priorities are for sustainable issues. He asked that the LULA
training program be sent to all Collaborative members. (Follow-up: This was done the following day.)
Sustainability—Introduction of Guests
Introduction of guests:Dr. Maurizio Bertini, a TOM resident who is Assistant Director,
NYC Office of Environmental Remediation at NYC DEP. Maurizio is an expert in brownfield remediation, noise
and air quality and is interesting in volunteering with the Collaborative. Also attending were MHS graduating
Seniors Zoe Kaldor and Natalie Spangle. Zoe has been interning with the Town Supervisor's office since the
spring, working to get the Town certified as a Climate Smart Community from New York State DEC. She will be
working through much of August. Natalie is also interested in working on environment-themed projects,
specifically regarding Long Island Sound. There was much discussion about what type of project and with whom
Natalie could work during her available time period in July. (Follow up: The Town referred Natalie to Save the
Sound where she could volunteer with an established program.)
Carports/Solar Power
Frank O. gave an update on Solar Carport options in the Town. The intention is to put solar power in as many
areas as possible;sites looked at included the Commuter Parking Lot on Myrtle Boulevard, the Hommocks Ice
Rink Parking Lot, the Town Center Lot and the Town Recycling Facility Yard. Solar power can be installed in
canopies so wherever you have a parking lot, you can build a solar carport. Another idea is installing the carports
on schools. Lawrence Mockler is a Larchmont resident who is an executive with Solaire. Frank is trying to set up
a meeting with him with the Collaborative.
Updating the Draft Plan—Goals for a Resilient&Sustainable Mamaroneck
Mark Manley asked what the Town's energy usage savings goal is by installing solar carports. Maurizio Bertini
asked to see the Town's Draft Plan for a Resilient and Sustainable Mamaroneck to take a look at these goals. In
the context of Energy Use, the question was raised whether the Collaborative had proposed an overall target for
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TOM Sustainability Collaborative
2016.0608 Meeting Minutes
Energy Use in the Town of Mamaroneck overall, including all aspects(homes, businesses,private&public
transport, etc. It was noted that New York State has established a goal of generating 50%of its power from
sustainable sources by 2030. How TOM, and its residents,fit into that goal might be a good topic for discussion
later in the summer, or perhaps September. (Follow-up: Draft Plan emailed to Maurizio and all Collabs next day.)
Resilient Infrastructure-Micro grid Initiative
Steve A. reported that Booz Allen sent a redacted version of their report to Mark Manley of Black& Veatch.
Mark offered his company to review Booz'findings. Sarah Neuman and Mamaroneck High School still need to
send their reports to Mark. Steve is to call Booz Allen to reschedule their presentation to the Collaborative.
8:20pm Next Meeting,Tuesday July 5th (Follow-up, this will be a Call, rather than a meeting—at 4:30pm.)
8:25pm The meeting was adjourned at 8:25pm.
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
• Education &Awareness Michele L, Beth R
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