Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023_11_14 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative Meeting Notes— November 14, 2023 Attendees: Karen Khor, Sue Odierna, Mark Kramer, Kevin Crowe, Robin Nichinsky, Arlene Novich,Judy Caputo, Andrea Hirsch, MHS student Zach Hughes, Melissa Hughes Via Zoom: Denise Dunn, Nick Zuba, Karin Weisburgh, Mike Smeets, and Allen Reiter Mark Kramer opened the meeting by asking how many in attendance had received a postcard in the mail from Westchester Joint Water Works (WJWW) regarding the planned water filtration plant. Nobody could confirm receiving this mailing which was supposed to go out to the entire Town of Mamaroneck. Robin briefly explained the reasoning behind a new filtration plant and that it is required by NYS and Federal law to meet water safety guidelines. Update: A new mailing has now gone out and all Town residents should receive this. Meeting notes from the October meeting were accepted. Monarch Butterfly Update Kevin explained the three actions that the Town has accomplished in 2023: • Launch/maintain public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhood • Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or other prominent location (planted milkweed at Town Center and 64 plants at the Senior Center, including pollinators; LMPP is to take care of the watering) • Host or support a native plant seed sale (Luke Brussel planted pollinators at Kane Park Kevin mentioned that the Town needs to report back to National Wildlife Federation by December 1st—he and Libby to send more details and photos on the above accomplishments to be submitted. Update: Thanks to Kevin Crowe, Elizabeth Poyet, and LMPP efforts, the Town's Mayors' Monarch Pledge report for 2023 was approved by the National Wildlife Federation Mayors' Monarch Pledge Team on December 4, 2023. Repair Café Kevin and Judy gave a recap of the Repair Cafe -- the event was a success with 88 items brought in to be repaired. The high school student volunteers got rave reviews, said to be very helpful. Some thoughts for next year's Café: might be better to start Café at 12 noon, instead of 1pm. We are targeting Sunday, October 20, 2024, as the date. Some of the comments were, "spirited," "got good advice," "positive event", "coming back next year," "need bigger signage out in the community," "need more fixers," "more advertising." Also, the organizers felt the Senior Center sign should be slanted so more people will see it and that we should add a sign at the Maxwell Avenue Recycling Center and signage in the Village of Mam'k. Report on Joint Sanitation Commission Meeting Judy reported on today's sanitation meeting that she attended. She said Town Administrator Meredith Robson mentioned that four or five trucks need to be replaced or repaired, it is difficult for a truck to handle multiple routes. Also, when VoM's curbside pickup of food scrap program was mentioned, VoL Mayor Sarah Bauer pointed out that this program is not a success everywhere, such as Rye City which discontinued it. After hearing Judy's update, Councilwoman Robin Nichinsky pointed out that it is unlikely that any curbside pickup of food scrap program will occur until the structure of the LMJGDC(the "Commission") is decided. Larchmont Fall Festival Mark Kramer mentioned that volunteers are needed for this event on November 18th from 11am— 3pm. Nick Zuba volunteered via Zoom to do outreach on the EnergySmart Homes Campaign at this event and Arlene Novich also volunteered. Tree Law Public Hearing, 11/15/23 @ 8pm Arlene discussed resident Jenny Geer's petition which was set up online and has over 300 signatures emphasizing that the current Tree Law draft if still not strict enough regarding saving trees. Some of the comments were: rather than a specific number of trees being taken down on a given property, it should be a percentage of a property's size. Also, tree companies should be required to check for permits before they can cut down a tree and if they cut a tree down w/o a permit, there would be a steep fine. It's easier to contact tree companies regarding the new law than thousands of residents. There were many points made of items that should be included in the new law and a full house was expected in the Courtroom the following night for the public hearing. Update: The New Tree Law was passed unanimously at the Town Board meeting on 11/15. Since the Tree Law discussion took a good deal of time, we postponed the update on "Utilizing Artificial Turf for Fields"to be discussed at the December meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.