HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015_04_20 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes
ToM Sustainability Collaborative
2015.0420Meeting Agenda
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Attendees: Nancy Seligson, Steve Altieri, Tony Gelber, Marc Karell, Michele Lewis, Stephen Moser,
Frank Owens, Andrea Grenadier, George Roniger, Mitch Green
Absent: Beth Radow, Lesley Seymour, Andrea Boyar
Guests: Katherine Parker, Westchester County Legislator
(Meeting minutes appear in italics below. If agenda topics did not result in specific decisions or agreed
actions, no italicized minutes are included)
6:00 PM Minutes of March 10, 2015 Meeting Approved
A brief discussion of Governance and Notice details concluded that approved Meeting Minutes should be
forwarded to TOM Clerk Christine Battalia and Andrea Grenadier. Meeting Notices should also be sent to
Christine and Andrea for coordination and posting on the TOM website.
6:05 PM Greetings & Introductions Catherine Parker
Discussion with Catherine Parker ranged across a number of issues, including a County-wide ban on plastic
bags, for which Catherine requested resolutions in favor of such a ban to be passed by local governments,
and the creation of a new County Office of Sustainability together with its Energy Director. The purpose of
the County Office of Sustainability is to support programs such as Solarize, CCA and assist NYSERDA in
maximizing benefits to Westchester County residents. NYPA will be assisting the County in assembling
metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness to tax-payers of Office of Sustainability activities. Catherine
noted that the Department of Environmental Facilities is the focus for water quality issues.
The Collaborative gave Catherine a copy of the Portland, Oregon noise ordinance, and asked Catherine to
advocate for such an ordinance at a County-wide level.
Regarding painting
chiefs discussed with the County DPW chief, local implementation could be facilitated.
Catherine noted that the County will now work to increase its Green Fleet as well as look to implement
charging stations and solar canopies in County-owned parking lots.
Regarding a #6 Oil ban, Catherine hopes for legislation later this year so that the 500+ buildings in the
County which currently use #6 Oil could be moved to a more environmentally-friendly fuel source.
Catherine noted that the Spectra Energy gas pipeline issue had become significant concern, particularly
regarding the risks to life, waterways and property from pipeline breaches and accidents.
6:10 PM Climate Action Plan progress, time frame, team Nancy S
Discussion of the Climate Action Plan and Climate Smart Communities certification was postponed until the
May 26 meeting
6:25 PM GHG Data Collaboration with Columbia Capstone update Marc K
Marc reported that Max and team have been successful in finding assignments in Harrison, that the Rye
Neck Schools may provide another possibility. Nancy noted that Owen Hurley, graduating senior from
MHS, will intern at TOM during the summer and update the TOM data for 2015
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ToM Sustainability Collaborative
2015.0420Meeting Agenda
6:30 PM Air & Noise Pollution Quiet Leaf Blowers update George R
George reported on the first demo, held April 6, attended by TOM and VOM personnel. George is
scheduling a second demo for May, with TOM also invited, to
purchasing quieter blowers as long as the effectiveness is demonstrated and the sound impacts are clear.
TOM also pledged to review the Portland, Oregon noise ordinance to verify if TOM has the legal capability
to pass such a law.
6:45 PM Walk-able Bike-able Bike Month Programs Steve M
Steve M reported on May Bike month activities at the schools. The Community ride is proposed for late
September / early October, giving the Bike-able team more time to coordinate the activities of the 3 local
governments
Steve will attend an East Coast Greenway meeting on May 7, and will report on possibilities to strengthen
P
The Collab intends to re-submit our Bike Friendly Community application this summer; the Bike-able team
will focus between now and then on those actions, including TOM-VOM-VOL Governance and Education
issues that were missing last year and whose presence will move us up the rankings this year
7:00 PM Spring Events Calendar Education, Outreach, Cleanups Beth R and Michele L
The Collab will support events by others, such as Stem-tastic, but will defer Collaborative events such as a
Community Charrette until the Fall
7:20 PM Sustainable Infrastructure Khris Dodson Syracuse Capstone update Mitch G
Subsequent to the Collab meeting it was learned that the TOM topic was not selected by the Syracuse
Capstone. Khris Dodson, however, remains interested in working with TOM on Sustainable
Infrastructure and initiating a Demonstration Project, and would like to attend the June Collab meeting to
discuss in detail
7:30 PM Renewable Energy - Solarize Larchmont-Mamaroneck PACE Financing Frank O
The Solarize program continues. The TOM-VOL-VOM team has worked well together to encourage local
interest, with more than 250 inquiries to the installer since the program began (over 300 as of May 22),
and 24 solar contracts signed. PACE financing for commercial users is being re-evaluated by TOM based on
the potential for a Delinquency Fund, which will eliminate financial risks to TOM. Discussions are ongoing
with Energize New York.
7:40 PM Energy & Preparedness Micro-Grids update Tony G
The Micro-Grid team has agreed to collaborate with Booz Allen Hamilton, who has successful experience
with these applications. Subsequent to the Collab meeting, the Micro-Grid application was submitted in
early May and, on May 15, TOM was awarded on the $100,000 grants in support of our two-part Micro-
Grid. Congrats to Tony and Frank!
7:50 PM Collaborative 2015 Budget updated Steve A not discussed
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ToM Sustainability Collaborative
2015.0420Meeting Agenda
7:55 PM Next Meeting Monday May 18, 2015 @ 6PM VFW
This meeting was re-scheduled to Tuesday May 26, 2015 at 6PM at the VFW
Priority Task Force Meetings to be scheduled by Task Force leaders time/place TBD
8:00 PM Adjourn
2015 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 O
Improve Community Preparedness Tony G
Renewable Energy & Local Energy Frank O, Marc K, Mitch G
Near-Zero Waste Community Mitch G, Steve A
Education & Awareness Michele L, Beth R
Climate-Smart, Zoning & Codes Nancy S, Andrea G
Minutes submitted by Mitch Green
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