HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024_12_02 Town Board Minutes o
_ ��9_1_ Town of Mamaroneck
Town Board Minutes
, m Monday, December 2, 2024, Conference Room A, Second
n Floor of Town Center 4:00 PM
FOUNDED 1661
PRESENT: Jaine Elkind Eney, Town Supervisor
Sabrina Fiddelman, Councilwoman
Robin Nichinsky, Councilwoman
Anant Nambiar, Councilman
ABSENT: Jeffery L. King, Councilman
ALSO PRESENT: Allison May, Town Clerk
Meredith S. Robson, Town Administrator
4:00 PM SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD
The Work Session of the Town Board was called to order by Town Supervisor Elkind Eney.
Moved by Councilmember Fiddelman, seconded by Councilmember Nambiar, the Special
Meeting unanimously opened at 4:02 p.m. The meeting was open to the Public.
1. Climate Smart Communities Task Force Coordinator
On motion by Councilman Nambiar, seconded by Councilwoman Fiddelman,
WHEREAS, the Town Board recognizes that climate change poses a real and
increasing threat to both local and global environments, and
WHEREAS, the negative effects of climate change will threaten our economy,
infrastructure, and society, damage our ecological communities; and threaten
the health of our citizens; and
WHEREAS, we believe that our response to climate change provides us with
an unprecedented opportunity to save money while fostering livable, secure,
and less fossil fuel dependent communities, innovative and flexible
economies, and resilient infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, we believe that the scale of greenhouse gas emissions required for
climate stabilization will require extensive and continuous efforts; and
WHEREAS, we believe that even if emissions were substantially reduced
today, communities would still be required to adapt to the effects of climate
change; and
WHEREAS, the Confidential Secretary to the Town Supervisor has maintained
the Town's Climate Smart Communities (CSC) portal for many years; now,
therefore be it
RESOLVED: that the Town of Mamaroneck will further engage in the Climate
Smart Communities (CSC) process by formally appointing the Confidential
Secretary to the Town Supervisor as "Climate Smart Communities
Coordinator" to assist the Town in achieving its program goals. The Climate
Smart Communities Coordinator, as deemed necessary and appropriate and
directed by the Town Supervisor, will assist in the CSC process by the
following:
Town Board
December 2, 2024
• Monitor the Town's CSC status and work with the CSC Task Force to
continue efforts to attain higher status under the program.
• Document information on energy use in municipal operations to explore
areas with energy saving potential.
• As appropriate, assist with updates to land use plans (e.g.
comprehensive plan) and land use tools to address climate change and
sustainability issues.
• As appropriate, assist with planned projects or large purchases within
local government to integrate energy conservation or waste reduction
practices and follow Town polices designed to reduce GHGs (e.g.
purchasing equipment/vehicles, building new facilities, initiating
municipal planning or capital improvement projects).
• Become familiar with and provide information on innovative policies
that support Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction to the public (e.g.
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) and the New York Stretch Energy
Code).
• Provide necessary input for municipal proposals to secure funding
and/or technical assistance and other resources to assist with GHG-
reduction projects.
• As appropriate, assist with drafting resolutions and ordinances to
implement GHG reductions and adaptation measures.
• Other functions as deemed necessary and appropriate by the Town
Supervisor.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Mamaroneck will further engage in the
Climate Smart Communities (CSC) process by formally appointing the
Confidential Secretary to the Town Supervisor as "Climate Smart Communities
Coordinator" to assist the Town in achieving its program goals.
Carried
2. Climate Smart Communities Task Force
On motion by Councilwoman Fiddelman, seconded by Councilman Nambiar
WHEREAS, the Town of Mamaroneck, New York, formally adopted a "Climate
Smart Communities" Pledge on June 3, 2009, recognizing the threat of climate
change to our Town operations, citizens, and the planet and outlining initial
steps that should be taken to mitigate this threat, increase energy efficiency,
and build resilience and sustainability in our Town, and
WHEREAS, the Town of Mamaroneck, New York, formally adopted a CLIMATE
SMART COMMUNITIES COORDINATOR RESOLUTION on December 2, 2024, be
it
RESOLVED, the Town Board of the Town of Mamaroneck hereby creates a task
force which shall be known as the "Climate Smart Communities Task Force"
hereinafter called the "CSC Task Force," and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the CSC Task Force shall be constituted as
specified by the following Terms of Reference:
Town Board
December 2, 2024
Terms of Reference
Climate Smart Communities Task Force
Membership; terms of office; vacancies.
A. The Climate Smart Communities Task Force shall include the following
individuals:
(1) The Town Supervisor
(2) All members of the Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative;
the length of their terms shall match those they hold under the auspices of
the Collaborative.
(3) The Town Board liaison to the Sustainability Collaborative.
(4) A Town employee, who shall serve as the CSC Coordinator; the length
of this person's term shall be at the discretion of the Town Supervisor.
B. In consultation with the Town Supervisor, the Town Administrator shall
direct the heads of relevant departments to be available to the CSC Task Force
in an advisory capacity.
C. The CSC Task Force may also seek input from individuals with expertise in
sustainability and GHG reduction from other agencies and organizations in the
region on an as-needed basis.
Officers; rules; records; meeting schedule.
A. The Chair of the CSC Task Force shall be the Chair of the Sustainability
Collaborative
B. The Chair shall preside over all official meetings of the CSC Task Force
(which will coincide with those of the Sustainability Collaborative).
C. Agendas and records of all meetings shall be kept and filed with the Town
Clerk.
D. A meeting schedule shall be established by the Chair and all meetings shall
be posted ahead of time on the Town website and be open to the public.
Role.
The role of the CSC Task Force shall be to:
A. use the N.Y.S.D.E.C. Climate Smart Communities Pledge Elements to identify
prioritized actions to be undertaken by the Town government and residents
such that the GHG impacts are maximized to the greatest extent achievable and
recommend the prioritized actions to the Town Board for approval.
B. suggest actions to be approved by the Town Board for decreasing electricity
and fossil fuel energy demand consistent with the Climate Smart Communities
pledge, with the goal of achieving increasing levels of Climate Smart
Communities certification.
C. gather data and establish baseline targets for local residential and
commercial GHG emissions and identify actions that will help to reduce
emissions.
D. upon consultation with the Town Supervisor, work collaboratively with
similar task forces in neighboring communities to ensure that efforts
complement and reinforce one another.
E. carry out such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the
Town Supervisor or by resolution of the Town Board.
Reports to the Supervisor and the Town Board.
The CSC Task Force shall maintain ongoing communication with the Town
Supervisor and the Town Administrator. Annually, at year end, the CSC Task
Force shall submit a brief report to the Town Board outlining its activities over
the past year and goals for the next year.
Compensation and expenses of members.
The members of the CSC Task Force shall receive no compensation for their
service as members.
Town Board
December 2, 2024
CSC Task Force Sunset Clause
The CSC Task Force has no termination date. It will continue to function as long
as there are sustainability issues worth reviewing and projects to implement for
Climate Smart Communities certifications. It can be terminated at any time by
the Town Board.
BE IT RESOLVED, the Town Board of the Town of Mamaroneck hereby creates
a task force which shall be known as the "Climate Smart Communities Task
Force," hereinafter called the "CSC Task Force."
Carried
ADJOURNMENT
On motion of Councilmember Nambiar, seconded by Councilmember Fiddelman, the
meeting was unanimously adjourned at 4:07 p.m.
Carried
Councilmember Nichinsky joined the meeting at 4:08 pm. While she may have missed the
vote, she requested to go on the record as supporting both of the motions above.
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING - December 4, 2024.
Submitted by
Allison May, Town Clerk