HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019_09_10 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
Meeting Notes, September 10, 2019
Attendees: Nancy Seligson, Steve Altieri, Mitch Green, Frank Owens, Arlene Novich, Sue Odierna,
Mark Kramer,, Karen Khor, Karin Weisburgh, Chris Hofstedt, Matt Thomas, George
Roniger, Elizabeth Poyet, Beth Radow,Jenny Geer,Todd Isberg, Lisa Pascetta (Girl Scout
Leader)with three 8th grade girl scouts and new volunteers Gint Rimas (new resident)
and Luke Kerr(local college student)
Minutes of July 16th meeting were accepted.
Guest and Girl Scout Leader Lisa Pascetta explained the Girl Scouts'work on Food Waste Recycling. They
are currently trying to enlist St.John and Paul to start recycling their food waste, other efforts—getting
rid of Styrofoam cups at HMX, adding (more?)recycling bins to HMX Ice Rink, having ice rink vendor use
compostables for serving food and drink. They are also posting their food waste efforts on their
Instagram account.
Action Item 1: Nancy/Steve A.to talk to ice rink vendor re: compostable serving items
Action Item 2: Beth suggested girl scouts share their food waste posts to Town pages; Sue to f/u with
GS Leader Lisa Pascetta
Wasted Food Reduction DEC Grant/Food Waste Recycling
Karen K. and Beth R. updated Collabs that work continues on the DEC grant. With consultants Drew and
Tamar(company name "Fleur")on board, marketing campaign is in full gear. "Love your Food"is to be
the name of the campaign and Fleur is creating content/photos for the website. Karen K. working on the
school portion;she updated us that Greenburgh Nature Center has been at the schools to train custodial
and teaching staff on the "Love your Food"campaign to support this program. Schools trying to do this
w/o parent volunteers as they want program to be run by staff. Training involves students so they'll be
more mindful about food rescue. There are bins for food rescue—Aramark takes items and brings to
MHS for storage and then works with food pantries to arrange for pickup.
Mark K. asked about Town purchasing a scale so that food waste could be weighed. He also suggested it
would be helpful to separate the individual schools'food waste weights.
Reusable Bag Initiative(RBI)
Nancy spoke on the "Mamaroneck Bag Waste Reduction"law public hearing explaining that almost all
residents spoke in favor of the law and the Town Board passed the law at their Sept. 4th meeting. The
law--which places a ban on carry-out,single-use plastic bags and a fee of 5 cents on paper bags--goes
into effect on Dec. 1st. With a stock of 3,000 reusable bags to distribute, Nancy said we'd like to give
away the bags to residents prior to law going into effect. Nancy to write letter to merchants advising of
law and attaching it to letter offering to meet with store managers/owners to offer assistance in
marketing of new law. (Note: Letter went out to major retailers on 9/20/2019 and to smaller retailers
on 9/26/19; see attached documents.)Suggestion was made that Collabs can help get the word out
about the new law by emailing their contacts and/or using social media. Beth suggested reaching out to
students by giving each student a reusable bag with info in it about law so parents get the message.
Next strategies are to figure out messaging/plan of action with merchants on how we can help them
transition smoothly to business under the new law. We especially want to make our reusable bags
available to lower income residents.
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Nancy also mentioned Stop and Shop is running a campaign for September in which$1 of every reusable
bag sold in the store($2.50 price tag) will go to the Community Resource Center.
USGA Event
Mitch explained to the group that he had met with a Winged Foot member to discuss making the USGA
event in 2020 more sustainable, discussion ensued regarding Collaborative involvement. Steve
mentioned that the Town has worked very well in the past(14 years ago was the last USGA event here)
with Winged Foot in keeping traffic light and noise pollution to a minimum. Matt and Frank asked what
the USGA could do for the Town. Examples given were having a famous golfer(or ex-golfer)come to
MHS to speak about zero waste and sustainability, giving credit to Mamaroneck for bringing a
sustainability event here. Frank M. said perhaps we could tie in with Mam'k Schools Foundation and plan
an event. Frank also mentioned a company, Tauro that places sensors on golf courses so they don't over
water. Mitch said if there is a community event prior to the tournament and TV crews cover it, they can
play that video(s)during tournament lulls(help to promote Town). Steve A. said he would talk to USGA
to see what they could do after Mitch writes up some ideas. (Update: Please see enclosed a separate
Draft Summary Memo:Winged Foot Golf Club and the Town of Mamaroneck-Advancing Engagement
on Sustainability, Education and Community Outreach.)
Mobility/Complete Streets/Electric Vehicle (EV)Charging Stations
Steve updated the group that three of the EV Charging stations(Town Center, Myrtle Blvd and Baldwin
Ave.)are installed and running. The Hommocks Ice Rink/Pool parking lot station needs to be re-
engineered due to an electrical issue. Electrical charging will be complimentary for the first few months,
appropriate fees to be determined.
The meeting was adjourned at 8PM.
The next meeting is Tuesday, October 15Y, at the TOM Senior Center/VFW on the Boston Post Road
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