HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017_09_12 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes TOM Sustainability Collaborative
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Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
Meeting Notes, Sept. 12, 2017
Attendees: Mitch Green, George Roniger, Frank Owens, Arlene Novich, Nancy Seligson, Steve Altieri, Steve
Moser, Sue Odierna, Michele Lewis, Marc Karell,Tony Gelber,Judy Caputo, Gabrielle Arcangeli,
Victor Tafur(VOM), Elizabeth Poyet(VOL),
Minutes of July 11, 2017 meeting were accepted
Introduction of new volunteers Judy Caputo and Gabrielle Arcangeli
Meeting Dates for Remainder of 2017:
October 3rd (large dining room), November 14th and December 5th
Biking Lane Network
Steve M and Mitch G suggested actions below:
1 More community outreach to demonstrate to TB and Traffic Committee that residents support bike
lanes. Increase the numbers of signatures on support letters.Support letters were signed at
summer concerts and farmers market. This initiative will continue this fall at farmers market.
Currently have over 150 signatures:
2 Buy additional bike racks (Town Center and Memorial Park). Older bike racks from Memorial Park
will be moved to Larchmont Train Station.
3 Paint sharrows on appropriate roads to increase awareness about cyclists
Action Item 1: Mitch suggested meeting with Steve M and Shannon P to discuss recommended streets for
painting sharrows and then taking those suggestions to the Town Board for their October 4th
meeting.
Action Item 2: Nancy suggested a memo from the Collaborative requesting sharrows for"implied" bike lanes.
Food Waste Recycling
400 kits are ready for sale thanks to Karen Khor's work recruiting volunteers to apply stickers and insert the
"How To"Guides. Volunteers will promote and sell kits starting Saturday,Sept. 16th at the MSF Triathlon,
Larchmont Day festival and Larchmont Farmers Market. Over 250 residents have signed up to purchase a kit.
Maxwell Avenue Sanitation Center will begin accepting residents'food waste on Monday,Sept 18th. Volunteers
will continue to man a table at the Larchmont Farmers Market promoting and selling the Food Waste starter kits
each Saturday. Mitch asked about doing a survey to see why residents sign up.
Action Item 1: Need banners promoting program(for VFW wall)and TOM Kioskat Myrtle/Chatsworth corner
and sign for Weaver/Palmer corner. Michele Lewis following up with Sue 0 to arrange
Action Item 2: Frank suggested contacting Sophia Andrews for volunteer students to help out at Farmers
Market. (Sue has emailed Sophia; awaiting her response.)
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TOM Sustainability Collaborative
2017 0711
Reusable Bag Initiative(RBI)
New volunteer, Gabrielle A is leading up the RBI. Gabrielle reported that she has spoken with Jennifer Mebes
Flagg of New Castle and received all of the New Castle RBI documents including the Environmental Impact
Statement. Jennifer reported to Gabrielle that the prep work for this initiative took about a year's time. Nancy
and Gabrielle discussed that the next best step would be the Bag Design Contest for interested kids and adults.
Gabrielle to speak with Sue about who best to contact in the school district to target kids. Arlene N. mentioned a
nice survey regarding plastic bag usage and
education:httdi/www.sierraclub.org/maryland/blog/2014/03/shodder-survey-results-imdact-smal l-bag-fee-
reusable-bag-use
Clean Energy Communities
Nancy updated the group that the Town is still working to determine an acceptable project for the$50,000 grant
for which the Town is eligible from Clean Energy Communities. The Town received a two month extension and
the grant is now due Nov. 12th. The project must show that it will reduce greenhouse gases. Electric Vehicles and
Charging Stations are NOT eligible since NY State offers other grants and incentives for these items.Aris
Company proposed a community solar project for the roof of the Hommocks Ice Rink that is possible. Nancy and
Steve asked the Collabs to suggest other potential ideas. Two suggestions included giving programmable
thermostats to residents, or possibly residents of apartment buildings where they could be more effectively
installed/managed. Another idea was to convert a multi family building(s)from oil to gas.
Electric Vehicle Incentive
The Town is considering leasing two Nissan Leaf vehicles as part of the Sustainable Westchester's Electric Car
Discount program. Steve thinks leasing is a better option than buying since the resale value for electric cars is
unknown. Sustainable Westchester is also talking with other electric car makers about discount programs.
Scandinavia House Zero Emissions Summit on Citizens' Role in Mitigating Climate Change
Nancy reported that she will be attending the Zero Emissions Summit on September 21st at Scandinavia House in
midtown and asked if others would like to attend. (Update: Michele L and Mitch G attended along with Nancy S)
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15pm.The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 3rd at 6 pm at the VFW in the
large dining room.
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