Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016_09_14 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes TOM Sustainability Collaborative 2016 0914 Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative Meeting Notes, September 14, 2016 Attendees: Nancy Seligson, Steve Altieri, Mitch Green, George Roniger,Tony Gelber, Frank Owens, Michele Lewis, Beth Radow, Mark Manley, Neha Dhanik, Sue Odierna 6:10 PM Greetings &Call to Order 6:15 PM The Sustainability Collaborative budget discussion identified approximately$10K remaining in the 2016 budget, and to what priorities this budget might be applied. There was also discussion about 2017 priorities for the Collaborative. The TOM Operating Budget for 2017 needs to be approved by mid-November 2016, with the Capital Investment Budget approved by mid-December. Please see details below. 6:20 PM Sustainability—Introduction of Guest/new Collaborative Team Member Neha Dhanik, an enthusiastic supporter of zero waste programs joined the meeting. Neha helped with the zero waste initiative at the Town concerts this past summer. Though not a TOM resident, Neha has a background in zero waste management and would like to volunteer to assist the Collaborative in areas of interest to her. The Collaborative warmly welcomed Neha, thanked her for her contributions this past summer, and encouraged her to work with us on matters of mutual interest. 6:25 PM Sustainability Collaborative/Sheldrake Event—Sunday,October 16th, 1-4pm The Sustainability Collaborative has reached out to the Sheldrake Environmental Center(SEC) to coordinate holding its leaf mulching, quiet leaf blower and rain barrels event at the SEC Fall Festival Sunday, October 16tn. The program would include: • Demonstration and discussion of mulch mowing • Demonstration and discussion of leaf blowing • Display, discussion and sale of rain barrels(there are about 20 left at the Yard) • Display "green"information material Steve A. will check to see if the Town purchased a quiet gas-powered leaf blower, and if needed organize the purchase of such a leaf blower in time for the event. The previously purchased battery operated blower did not have sufficient power for the job. Steve also said the first area to be mulch-mowed in the Town could be the non- playing field areas of Memorial Park. It was noted that citations for violating TOM's current seasonal leaf blower law had increased significantly. The Collaborative supports the TOM Board's review of the penalties schedule, including the proposal to increase the penalty for the 1st offence to considerably more than the current$100. To spread resident awareness of the problem, including better understanding of landscaping firms who are following the rules, and others, the Collaborative requested the Supervisor and Administrator to study and report whether the list of landscapers with a number of repeat fines could be listed on the TOM website. 1 TOM Sustainability Collaborative 2016 0914 Sue was to call Sheldrake's Director, Mary Ellen, to find out where the Collaborative's location will be at the Festival. Also, Collabs need to come up with a name for our portions of the the event. (NOTE: Mitch made a previous suggestion to call the event a "Leaf In".) • Team:Sue 0 will coordinate,Steve A and George R will assist 6:40 Sustainability/Education and Awareness—Raking vs. Blowing Beth raised the issue of using rakes to move leaves instead of blowers. Time efficiency,physical exercise, and efficacy were discussed. It was suggested that kids at the high school could rake leaves as a possible community service project. Beth suggested an education or outreach program to get residents to stop using leaf blowers and to rake instead. • Team:Beth and Michele said they would create an outline of a "Future Raking Program"for 2017. 6:50 Sustainability/Resiliency--Electric Vehicles/Charging Stations Governor Cuomo is pushing increased usage of electric vehicles and charging stations. There is a grant available that Beth and Mark M. said they'd take a look at. Grant is due October 21st • Team:Mark M and Beth R agreed to investigate;Sue 0 will coordinate TOM Dept assistance if Mark& Beth decide that TOM should submit an application 7:00 Quality of Life--Litter Campaign Nancy suggested an anti-litter campaign for the Town for 2017. She mentioned the large quantity of litter scattered all over the Town. The litter campaign could be in conjunction with a push to increase recycling and be a tri-municipal project. The suggestion was made that perhaps MHS teacher Sophia Andrews could run a contest for an anti-littering slogan or logo. The Collab expressed interest in a joint campaign of: TOM VOL MHS(Sophia Andrews)and Hommocks(the Rocket) VOM(Tony G suggested that the VOM Administrator was the place to start) Steve A. was asked what our garbage weight is for 2016 and Steve reported that the tonnage has gone down 16%in the last three years, while the recycling percentage remained 60%of the total waste collected. • Team:Neha D would like to work on this;Sue 0 will reach out to Andrea B;Beth R& Michele L will assist, Sue 0 will reach out to Sophia Andrews at MHS to gauge interest in participating 7:15 Resilient Infrastructure—Green Infrastructure/Town Center Parking Lot The Collaborative would like to assist in making the current Town Center parking lot renovation the basis of a holistic renewal of the Town Center site,from Boston Post Road to Rockland Ave. Steve A. reminded the group that the original project was a resurfacing project, to which was added sustainable infrastructure once a grant was received. Issues of Landscaping, Wayfinding,Sense of Arrival,All-Weather Town Center Entry,Signage and Special Lighting have not yet been part of the discussion. The Collaborative proposes the following process to address these issues:a) with a portion of the 2016 Budget,fund consultants who will assist the Collaborative in addressing all the above issues and creating a 2 TOM Sustainability Collaborative 2016 0914 Renewal Plan;and b) use the Renewal Plan to secure a Capital Expense Budget in the 2017 Budget in order to carry out the detailed design, documentation and implementation of the work. • Team:Mitch,Steve M and Michele will to put together consultant scopes, identify consultant candidates, and coordinate proposals and selection with Steve A. 7:25 Quality of Life and Sustainability--Biking Safety Tony mentioned that there aren't enough roads in the Town that are safe for biking. Students biking to Hommocks do not have a safe route. It was suggested to ask Jonathan Orcutt, Consultant, to address the Town Board. • Team:Mitch to work with Steve M. to contact Jonathan Orcutt and retain him, with immediate goals to include assistance with detailed implementation studies in TOM as well as presentations to TOM Traffic and the TOM Board 7:40 Renewable Energy--Metro North/Solar Power/Municipal Solar Buyers Group Beth had been talking to with Metro North to see if solar panels could be built at the train station. She was told by Metro North that they've already completed work in the Larchmont station and don't intend to do more due to reduced labor force and other budget priorities. MetroNorth also expressed safety concerns about employees or outside contractors working on corrugated roofs. Discussion ensued about the Cortland MetroNorth Station, and that they've installed lighting that was powered by solar energy and wind. Would this be possible in the Town? While the MetroNorth Station property may not be a near-term possibility, other properties around both Larchmont and Mamaroneck Stations might have potential for renewable energy, including: • TOM-owned parking areas at Larchmont • VOL-owned parking areas at Larchmont • VOM-owned parking areas at Mamaroneck Projects in these areas could be implemented through the Municipal Solar Buyers'Group (MSBG). Sustainable Westchester reported that the Municipal Solar Buyers Group project is expected to finally have a contract at the end of September. This will be an excellent opportunity for the Town to implement solar power at a low cost. • Team:Frank 0, Marc K, Tony G, Mitch G. Once Sue 0 alerts the Collaborative to the completed contract and its details, the Collaborative will work with TOM residents to orchestrate a series of statements in favor of participation to be made at TOM Board Meetings 7:50 Resilient Infrastructure—MHS Dashboard Frank updated the group that the MHS dashboard is now "live." This project—funded by both Mamaroneck Schools Foundation and private donors—provides real time information on energy performance in the building to students and staff which creates awareness and can encourage behavior change to reduce energy usage. Buildingdashboard.com is the site we(and students)can go on to see the usage throughout MHS. The group congratulated Frank on his hard work and perseverance on making the dashboard a reality. It is the first of its kind in a high school. 3 TOM Sustainability Collaborative 2016 0914 8:00 Renewable Energy&Local Energy--Wegowise Frank reported that Wegowise is an online tool for tracking utility data. Frank says the features show energy being used in BTU's and that the application is very user-friendly. Wegowise has the ability to connect into monthly utility bills electronically. There is a fee of$300/building/year to$500/building/year, WegoWise input the data and provide customized reports. Frank suggested we consider paying for the Town Center and the Ice Rink using the Collaborative budget. They would also populate the database with historical data. • Frank 0 will verify that WegoWise will be able to access TOM power sources, including both NYPA and ConEd. Once this is verified, the Collaborative will actively consider for the 2017 Operating Budget 8:05 Renewable Energy&Local Energy—Climate Smart Communities Certification Nancy updated the group that the Town of Mamaroneck has been "certified "by NYS's Climate Smart Communities program. It was a difficult and long process but intern,Zoe Kaldor, took this project on exclusively. She input all of the data proving the Town's environmental initiatives and programs. The Regional Director of the DEC will come to Mamaroneck to announce the achievement. Nancy explained to the Collaborative that this certification elevates the Town's status in the eyes of the State as there aren't many towns who have achieved this. There will be a press release distributed from the DEC about Mamaroneck's certification later this week. 8:15 Water Quality—Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Study A contractor and construction manager have been hired for this very large project which obligates the Town to review and test the Town's lateral sanitary sewer lines. Four municipalities are working together on this project: • TOM;Pelham Manor;New Rochelle; VOL One of the "visible"activities of this study is to "smoke"the sewers as part of the process to identify leaks. It was suggested that this might make a useful and informative Community Education and Outreach event,so that residents might understand what their taxes are paying for, and why. It may also be of interest to MHS AP Enviro. • Team:Sue 0 to determine the consultant team's schedule for TOM sewer inspections and report to the Collab at the October meeting. Based on this schedule, the Collab will consider possible events& timing. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm. The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 4th at 6pm at our regular meeting location of the VFW. 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 4