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Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
2024.11.12 Meeting Notes
TOWN OF MAMARONECK SUSTAINABILITY COLLABORATIVE
NOVEMBER 12,2024 MEETING NOTES sustainabO'
Attendees: Mark Kramer,Karin Weisberg,Arlene Novich,Karen Khor, Mitch Green,Kevin Crowe,Sue Odierna,
Hugh Collins,June Wallach, Marianne Hardart, Roger Weiss
Welcome to new volunteers, Marianne and Roger
Approval of the Meeting Notes
The Notes of the October Collaborative Meeting were approved.
Repair Café, 10/20/24-Kevin Crowe
The repair cafe was very successful,ran extremely smoothly and was a tri-municipality sponsored event. The
organizing committee composed of Kevin Crowe, Mark Kramer& Sue Odierna from the Collab, Katherine
Pannell from LEC and Debbie Sullivan from CFTE along with 12 fixers, 12 volunteers and 12 MHS honor
students hosted 64 attendees with 66%stating it was their 1st repair café, from all three municipalities and
other locations. A total of 104 items were brought in and 74 items or 71%were fixed. The top four categories
were mechanical, sewing, electronics and jewelry. Two new"fixers"were added this year: umbrellas and
tips for smart phone users.
Mark Kramer suggested that cut-in half wraps should be separated and labeled. Due to the popularity of the
event, suggestions were made to hold the event more often than annually. However, recruiting volunteers
more than once/a year does not seem feasible. Publicity needs to continue with all avenues as 21 different
methods of how attendees learned about the repair café were tallied in the survey of attendees.
Follow up from October Collab Meeting-Sue and Mark
Sue updated the group that we are awaiting approval on the revised"Sustainability Collaborative"webpage
of the Town's website. Once we get approval on the main part of the page,Sue will work with Hugh and others
on additional changes to the left-side column which contains some dated material and projects.Also, there
was a discussion about adding the Comprehensive Plan Community Survey Results to the page. However,
because these comments include many aspects of the Town (not simply environmentally related
comments),if there is approval on posting these comments,there was agreement that they should be posted
to the Comprehensive Plan page,not the collab page.
Regarding our Climate Smart Community(CSC) certification and Jaine's goal of"getting to silver in 2025"
from our current bronze status, we do not yet have a decision on whether to hire the CSC consultant Jaine
and the Board are considering. Jaine has said the delay stems from the fact that the consultant's fee has
increased because she believes it is more work than she originally thought. Sue mentioned that the town
could hire summer intern Michaela (available now through mid-January) and that she and Michaela could
work on CSC immediately. Robin reported that Jaine had noted this would be discussed and decided on at
the next TB meeting on November 20t'. The concern from the Collabs is that time is ticking away and to
submit our renewed actions and hopefully some new actions by the January 10,2025 deadline, we need to
work on this now. Also undecided is Mark Karell's proposal to prepare our Community Green House Gas
Inventory,an important building block toward Silver.
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Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
2024.11.12 Meeting Notes
Update:At their November 20 Meeting, the Town Board approved hiring Nikki Armacost as a consultant to
lead the CSC effort,with the responsibility to submit as many items as possible by the January deadline,and
then to strategize how to achieve Silver through new submittals in the middle of the year,which she will also
lead. The agreement with the consultant extends until the Town reaches silver status and the expectation is
that will occur by the April, or at the latest,July CSC deadlines.
CEC Grants Awarded by NYSERDA-potential use
Grant update-Sue reported that due to several environmental campaigns the Collab has helped the Town
with, the Town has received NYSERDA"Clean Energy Community"(CEC)program grants this year for$5,000
and$100,000. Also, we've received notification that we are eligible for a $175,000 grant and(just today!-
11/12/24) a $200,000 grant. The goal is to get applications for the last two grants submitted as soon as
possible as we have been told this CEC program is winding down and will end in 2025. The Town is
considering using these grants for two heat pump projects, one set for the senior center and the other for the
new Parks Building to be built in Memorial Park.
A Tree for George/Watering/Tree Walk/Tree Lists-Arlene Novich, Mitch Green
Arlene reported that the funds have been raised for George's tree. There are three areas that are appropriate
for the tree that Liz and Arlene discussed. Also discussed was the type of tree to order. Liz Aitchison will get
bids and order the tree in the spring and the tree will be planted spring 2025. Watering trees: there were
concerns that trees were not being watered enough. Residents had reached out to the Town. The watering
contract had ended, but due to severely dry weather, a decision was made to extend the contract. Robin
noted she believed this would continue for three weeks. Sue to f/u with Liz. Arlene also reported that there
was an issue on N. Chats where sidewalk work was being done. Roots from trees were exposed, residents
emailed about it and Town sent Jimmy Guinee (arborist) to look at it who felt the tree was ok. Collab wants
to make sure,going forward, that someone is checking on trees when work is done near trees. For example,
a sidewalk project on Colonial Avenue is upcoming and Collabs are concerned about the trees that may be
"in the way." Who will watch over the trees when this work begins?
Arlene also reported that the Fall Tree Walk will take place on November24t`'@ 1 pm at Sheldrake Reservoir.
The event is free, but please do sign up: https://sheldrakecenter.org/event/town-of-mamaroneck-fall-tree-
walk/.
Mitch reminded the group that Collabs are still waiting for a Town-Approved Tree List for use by residents,
departments and Boards;this potential list had been discussed at a Collab meeting this past spring
Update: Sue confirmed that Liz extended the watering contract through the end of November.
110-Tree Donation Planted in June 2024-Tree Map and Tree Location List received
Mitch reported that, through a FOIL request,a map has been obtained showing the locations of the 110 trees
planted in June and a list of addresses where the trees were to be planted. It was noted that:a)the map did
not show locations for all 110 trees,and b)some of the locations indicated and initially planted were removed
at resident request. Mitch suggested that Collab members be given the map and, in their areas, update it
with current information. The received map and tree list are attached.
EV Chargers
The Washington Square Neighborhood Association generally meets with the Town (Jaine/Meredith) twice a
year to discuss their neighborhood issues. Jaine asked Mark and Mitch if they could present to the upcoming
WSNA meeting about electric vehicle chargers being placed in this neighborhood to help expand the Town's
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Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
2024.11.12 Meeting Notes
supply of EV chargers/EV's. Mitch and Mark toured the Washington Square area to see what the layout is like,
and where the best locations are for exterior chargers. They understand there may be some concern about
EV chargers taking up non-EV parking spaces, but that there may also be interest from some in EV spaces
and chargers being installed. Mitch explained that the nine buildings vary--from older buildings dating back
to the 1920s with limited parking to newer buildings with garages for parking and so, the concerns as well as
the solutions are varied. Mark and Mitch will present at the WSNA meeting this Friday, Nov 15t' at Town
Center.
A separate EV issue was explained by Mark that drivers park their non-EV cars in EV spaces,most notably at
the EV Charger location on Myrtle Blvd. Can this be better enforced? June mentioned that she had inquired
about this and found out that the TMPD could not write tickets for this as there wasn't a code for this type of
violation at that point. Allie who spoke to Mark after the presentation will flu with Admin/PD to see if that has
changed.
ToM Solar-Mitch Green
Mitch reported that Frank Owens and/or Mark Manley will schedule a time to meet with Town Engineer Rob
Wasp to review the Highway Building roof at the Maxwell Avenue Yard. They need to determine the roof's age
to potentially move forward with getting a proposal from a solar panel developer. Though there are other
areas in Town where solar panels could be installed, this seems like a top option.
Other
Mark wanted the group to know that the next Sanitation Commission meeting may take place on Monday,
November at 3 pm at Town Center. The budget and the old incinerator should be discussed
Upcoming Event: Sun, Nov 24th 1 pm-2 pm Town of Mamaroneck Fall Tree Walk at Sheldrake
The meeting concluded at 8:00 pm.
Wishing you a Happy Healthy Thanksgiving and looking forward to seeing you at our final meeting for 2024
which will be held on Tuesday, December 3'from 6 p.m.to 8 p.m.
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