HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021_05_11 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes
Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
2021.0511 Collab Meeting Notes
Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
Meeting Notes, May 11, 2021
(Meeting via Zoom, 6pm – 8pm)
Attendees: Mitch Green, Jeff King, Sue Odierna, George Roniger, Mark Kramer, Kevin Crowe, Arlene Novich,
Michelle Lewis, Elizabeth Poyet, Nick Zuba, June Wallach, Jacob Levitt, Lisa McDonald, Eliza Pertz,
Frank Owens, Katy Romita (Healthy Clubs), Joe Liberti (MHS OCRA teacher), Robyn Rae (New
Rochelle resident), Ellen Martin, Rene Crabtree (VoM), Paul Katzenstein, Robert Irwin, Steve
Moser, Alexander Boswell, Ryan McIntyre (MHS OCRA students)
Guests: Erik and Heidi of “Pyoor” Landscaping Company (featuring the Robo Mower)
Mitch G welcomed everyone. MHS student Sebastian Gold expressed his interest in working with the “Collabs” this
summer.
Mitch asked if Sustainability Collaborative minutes and agendas are up on the website and Sue responded that
they have not been posted to the website but that there is a link to Sue’s direct email to request meeting minutes
and agendas. Once website renovation is completed this year, all should be uploaded.
Notes of April 2021 meeting were accepted.
CLEANER, MORE RESILIENT ENERGY
Community Solar and GridRewards – Tri-Municipal Campaign
Mitch reported that residents can still sign up for Community Solar. VoL and ToM met their numbers, VoM may be
a bit short. Frank said he was encouraged by all of the support at the Hommocks Community Solar press event,
that inspections were continuing, and that the roof solar panels should be live by June/July. He has also spoken
with Hommocks Middle School regarding the leasing of their roof, but they may not be permitted to do so.
Update: The Town has received notification from NYSERDA that our submission has been approved (Community
Campaign – Community Solar high impact action under the Clean Energy Community program).
Update: In response to a question from Mitch regarding the potential for a “Community Solar Phase 2” on the
Maxwell Avenue Roof, the Town subsequently advised that the Maxwell Avenue roof was one of several proposed
Town-owned opportunities which are now part of a NYSERDA-run competition for solar developers. News on this
competition and its implications for the Town may be available before the end of the summer.
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Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
2021.0511 Collab Meeting Notes
STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY HEALTH
Healthy Clubs
Katy Romita gave background on the Healthy Club effort, explaining it began in 2019, coincident with efforts to
improve the sustainability of Winged Foot Golf Club’s plans to host the US Open in 2020. Collab members who also
belong to clubs in Mamaroneck and Larchmont want to encourage more sustainable practices at their clubs. At
present, members from six clubs are actively participating with goals of:
o Reducing single-use plastic
o Reducing food waste (through composting and donations)
o Reducing energy use
o Improving recycling practices
o Spreading awareness of sustainability practices and their immediate impact on the health of Long
Island Sound among membership
A goal for 2021 is to create a common “baseline” for sustainable practices and to identify where each club stands
for each baseline measure. Food scraps recycling is an issue -- none of the clubs are currently composting. Frank
Owens noted that a new NYS law requires all “large” wasted food generators – those producing more than 150
tons per year – to separate and recycle food scraps. Frank further noted that food waste dryers – like the one in
use at Winged Foot, can be an effective alternative if the economics of “food waste recycling through composting”
are a challenge for clubs.
Regarding energy programs, the Healthy Clubs team was encouraged to connect with Denise Dunn, who can
introduce the current EV chargers programs to the clubs. In addition, with the expected start of C-PACE programs
in the Town and hopefully both Villages, low-cost financing will be available to clubs to make a wide range of
energy improvements.
H.O.W. Green
As a parallel effort to Healthy Clubs, Paul Katzenstein from Larchmont Temple was introduced as a leading
member of “H.O.W. Green”, a group of Larchmont-Mamaroneck Houses of Worship. Paul said over the last four-
five years, the HOW Green group had worked through a wide variety of incremental improvements to
sustainability, changing product sourcing as they have changed member behaviors. Member organizations have
worked individually, but also together: several H.O.W. now use the same “healthy yards” landscaper.
And as situations have changed, HOW Green members have updated their goals. As an example, although
changing from plastic serving ware to compostable has been successful, members are now thinking that moving to
re-usable china will be a further improvement.
H.O.W. Green members have developed educational programs to help their congregants; the “Sustainable
Sundays” series is a great program that connects houses of worship.
Update: it was suggested that Healthy Clubs and HOW Green collaborate, bringing some of HOW Green’s
successes to the attention of club members and key staff. Healthy Clubs and HOW Green should also develop a
common “Baseline” for sustainable practices as a way to share successful efforts.
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Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
2021.0511 Collab Meeting Notes
Robo Mower
George R. introduced Heidi and Erik Pande Horn to the group, having seen their “Robo Mower” demo. Heidi and
Eric own a landscaping company called Pyoor which features a robotic mower. Heidi and Erik explained that three
years ago, they started the robotic lawn mower company and it has now evolved into a full landscaping company.
They also noted that five percent of air pollution stems from landscaping, so their products are an effort to combat
this. Their landscaping company uses no gas-powered equipment, only battery-operated leaf blowers, weed
wackers, etc. They mentioned how in Europe robotic mowers are used on large properties such as golf courses and
community parks. Because the mower only “nibbles” grass, it is used daily and generally from April – October.
George recommended we have a demo at Town Center or if we have an outdoor meeting, at the next Collabs
meeting.
Update: Erik and Heidi have been invited to demo at our July 13 meeting which will take place at the Senior
Center and we will have access to the deck to meet (weather permitting) and can use the grass to try out the robo
mower.
Pollinator Pathways Garden Tour
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Elizabeth P. mentioned her talk coming up at Mamaroneck Library on June 2 at 7pm on Composting. Also
coming up is the Pollinator Pathway Garden Tour which will take place on Sunday, June 13 from 10am – 1pm.
Elizabeth needs volunteers for entrances of properties; please email epoyet@gmail.com if interested in helping.
College students and seniors are welcome to assist. Please also let her know if you can share via social media.
Tree Team – Updating Mamaroneck’s Tree Code
Arlene updated that there was a successful tree sapling giveaway at LEC’s Earth Day event and at the Farmer’s
Market. She mentioned that Robert Irwin has been working with Jake Levitt to update the Tree Code. They have
seven priorities:
1. Lot Size Exemption - Delete the rule that on properties under 20,000 square feet, property owners do not need
to obtain permits to remove trees
2. Restructure Penalty Levels and Process -- Make penalties for illegally removing trees substantial enough to
considerably reduce tree removal.
3. Criteria for Tree Removal - Create a list of criteria that must be taken into account by both property owners and
the Town during permit reviews. The current criteria undervalue trees. The decision-making process needs to be less
subjective, and perhaps involve upper levels of Town government in addition to the Environmental Planner and an
independent Arborist.
4. Replacement Tree Process to be Revised -- for example, based on aggregate Diameter at Breast Height (DBH)
of all trees removed (avoid the current “one-to-one” replacement of one large tree with one sapling, and reflect the
value of the removed tree in calculating the number and aggregate tree canopy coverage of required replacements)
5. Strengthen Notification Rules and Process -- including expanding the radius of properties to be notified around
tree(s) proposed to be removed, and modernize the notification system (citizens have a right to know.)
6. Reform Rules for Change of Property Ownership, property development, and raising of land grade as
justifications for clear-cutting.
7. Permit Fee Restructure (non-nominal fee, should reflect the value -size, age, ecological value, etc. of the tree)
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Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
2021.0511 Collab Meeting Notes
Mitch suggested it would be helpful to have a companion document showing changes that have been made in
other communities that could be made here as well. Mitch asked Jeff King if any of the above priorities would be a
no go and Jeff responded that all are valid suggestions and he recommended Robert and/or Jake contact him to
review further. Jeffery suggested that the Tree Team “red-line” the code with our proposals.
Arlene mentioned that some invasive species are on the tree planting list that the Town’s Conservation Planner
uses. Elizabeth P and Arlene would like to know how we can avoid planting invasives. Mitch asked the Tree Team
to send him a page of suggestions regarding the tree list, including identifying which species are “invasives” and
should be removed from the Town’s recommended tree list.
MINIMIZE WASTE
Compost GiveBack Day
Mark Kramer reported the day was very popular. Majority of customers said they heard about the event via
website’s eblasting. He recommended next year we say “please don’t bring garbage pails” because those become
too heavy when filled with compost. He also thought nametags would be helpful for the volunteers.
Mark also mentioned that he is working with OCRA students on the bike food scrap pickup pilot program and will
update when there are further details.
Update: The OCRA no-GHG bicycle-based food scraps program was launched in late May and is on-going.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & EDUCATION
OCRA (Original Science Research Action) MHS Students “Green Mamaroneck” App
Mitch reported that the launch of OCRA would be next week. He would like the Town and School District to work
together on a press release. Joe LIberti discussed the BETA test group and that it was similar to ToM
demographics and consisted of 35 participants. Jacob Levitt mentioned how great the app looked and that we
should spread this concept to other communities.
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Update: The launch date was pushed back a bit and went live on June 3. If you missed the post on the
Mamaroneck School District or Town’s FB pages, see it here:
https://www.facebook.com/townofmamaroneckenvironment
Center for Continuing Education Sustainability Seminars
June is working with the Center for Continuing Education (CCE), starting in the fall, on a series of 75-minute
programs on a variety of Collab efforts. She suggested three classes with the topics of Energy, Love your Food and
Healthy Yards. A suggestion was made from the Center to offer a program on Single-Use Plastics Reduction.
Programs will be promoted in July and classes to be held in October. Classes are free, will need speaker for each.
Update: The Collab’s first “Sustainability How-To Seminar” for CCE class will be held on October 4 from 7:00 pm -
8:15PM. The subject will be Energy, with Nicholas Zuba and Frank Owens as key speakers. Sustainable
Westchester’s “Community Solar” has been suggested as a primary topic, with EV chargers as a companion idea.
But with winter coming on by then, perhaps a mention of SW’s “Energy Smart Homes” program which focuses on
weather-tightness and insulating attics might be timely.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 pm
The next meeting will be held on: Tuesday, June 8, 2021 @ 6pm by Zoom
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