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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023_08_01 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative Meeting Notes—August 1, 2023 Attendees: Karen Khor, Sue Odierna, Mark Kramer,June Wallach, Kevin Crowe, Robin Nichinsky, Mitch Green, Denise Dunn, Karin Weisburgh, Nick Zuba, Arlene Novich, MHS student/CSC Intern Sebastian Gold Mark Kramer opened the meeting, thanking Karen Khor for providing everyone with dinner! Mark circulated sign-up sheets for upcoming events (Larchmont Day and Repair Café). Meeting notes were accepted. Trees Update Arlene reported that she was asked by Elizabeth Aitchison, the Town's Environmental Planner, for help in locating residents who would like to donate $250 towards a tree for the NYS DEC Urban and Community Forestry Tree Planting Grant program. Liz has ten interested residents and Arlene and Mitch recruited additional residents. Mitch recruited nine families to commit to 14 trees and Arlene added another six commitments to that. Robin reported that the Tree Code would be on an upcoming agenda later this month and that Elizabeth has not given her input on the latest version of the tree code yet, but will be shortly regarding what type(s) of trees should replace trees that get cut down. Update on Co-chairs Meeting with Jaine & Meredith Mark reported that Jaine and Meredith expect that the public hearing on the tree code will occur in September or October. Half the community will be subject to the new law a few months after it has passed (maybe January?) and the other half at a later date. The idea is to have a two-year phase in for implementing all aspects of the tree code. Meredith has spoken to Honeywell's Gary McAvoy and he will conduct an American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Level 1 Audit in September 2023. This will help the Town remain current on the CSC action for Government Building Energy Audits which expires on September 30, 2023. In view that the Town's contract with Honeywell terminates later this fall 2023, former Collab Member, Frank Owens, has suggested the Town consider working with NV5 (previously known as Celtic), an energy consulting firm, that could help the Town with next steps in energy improvements to achieve greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. Frank suggested submitting Honeywell's ASHRAE Level 1 audit report to NV5 or another energy consulting firm as a basis for them to discuss with the Town suggested next steps and ways they could help the Town achieve its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. Re: the Energy Smart campaign, Rich Polcari, the Town's Building Inspector, had a positive reaction to the Town implementing this campaign. Note: The Town has agreed to participate and just this week (9/8), NYSERDA has approved us going forward. GOCAP Meeting Update Sebastian reported that the 4th GOCAP meeting was held last week (end of July). Frank Giordano, the Sanitation Foreman attended, along with Sebastian, Karen Khor, Meredith and Mark Kramer. They discussed current programs that keep track of waste at Town buildings and determined there really isn't one. Mark suggested that potentially, Joe Liberti's OCRA students could conduct a solid waste audit at Town buildings. Also discussed was food scrap recycling within Town offices and environmentally friendly purchase policies. Mark reported that Meredith and Frank are both open to a food scrap pilot recycling at the Town offices. Meredith sounded positive about the purchase policy as the current contract is expiring soon anyway. Sue reported that she would be happy to look into this and has mentioned this to Jaine. Also noted from this meeting: Discovery Books recycling drop-off site has been approved by Meredith to be located at Maxwell Avenue Recycling Center. Next step in the GOCAP process is a Community GHG Inventory. Upcoming Fall Events/Volunteer Needs • Sept 23 (Sat), 1-5 pm - Larchmont Day-Volunteers needed for ToM Sustainability Collaborative table—Larchmont Ave-Constitution Park. Contact Arlene Novich: amyginger@yahoo.com • Sept 27 (Wed), 7-8 pm - Free Community Class: Reducing Food Waste with a Few Delicious Recipes from Renowned Local Chef Adam Kaye at ToM Senior Center, Larchmont-Mamaroneck Center for Continuing Education &Collab ToM. • Oct 15 (Sun), 1-5 pm -Town of Mamaroneck Repair Café—Volunteers needed—ToM Senior Center. Contact Kevin Crowe or Judy Caputo Upcoming Webinars/Conferences • August 15, 1-3pm, Environmental Bond Act Educational Listening Tour @ West. County Center (Note: Mark Kramer and June Wallach attended and will update at Collabs' September meeting.) • NYSACC Conference on Environment (virtual and in person), September 20— 22, Ithaca, NY Additional Discussions Karen spoke about how the Town's Climate Emergency Declaration resolution tasked the Sustainability Collaborative with developing, and together with the Town, implementing a strategy to secure Climate Emergency Response funding from County, State and Federal sources. However, the Collaborative has been unable thus far to get a full understanding from the Town as to its grant plans and priorities, and several of the Collabs' ideas have not been received positively. An exception has been the Town's recent positive response and follow-up to the Collab's advice to submit a grant application to NYS DEC's Street Trees Grant program. Robin explained that there are many competing priorities relating to grants, such as for Town infrastructure projects, repairs, initiatives such as affordable housing, and others.Town staff is also limited as to how many grant proposals can be managed at one time.The Collab will continue to reach out to Jaine and Meredith about possibilities for sustainability-related grants. The LMC video on the topic of recycling has been sent back to LMC for final editing. Request to change the November Sustainability Collaborative meeting to November 14th (a week later). Note: this has been done. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm.