HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024_07_09 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
2024.0709—Collaborative Meeting Notes
Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
Meeting Notes —July 9, 2024
Meeting notes accepted from the June meeting.
Attendees: Mark Kramer, Kevin Crowe, Mitch Green,Andrea Hirsch,Alan Reiter,Sue Odierna, Hugh Collins,
Robin Nichinsky, Mike Smeets,Summer Intern Michaels Loughran,June Wallach, Hayley Ganis OCRA,Addy
Bartlett OCRA, new volunteer James Boes (Irrigation Specialist)
Tree for George:
After discussion, the Collab agreed on the following outline regarding a commemoration of George Roniger's
contributions to the Town of Mamaroneck, the Larchmont Gardens Civic Association, and the Sustainability
Collaborative in particular:
Location: Duck Pond(in later discussion with Arlene N, George's daughters prefer the Brook)
Tree Type: Large Deciduous
How Many: One
Including: Tree Plaque,as organized byToM's"Trees for Our Town"program
Certificate from Town Leadership, addressed to George's wife and his two daughters, if
possible
Cost $500, per the requirements of the"Trees for Our Town"program
Funding Collaborative Members, including but not limited to Mark K, Kevin C, Yugo X,Arlene N,June W,
and Alan R
Action: Mitch to email Jaine/Robin with this summation and proposal regarding the Certificate
110 Trees for Our Town-placement and watering:
Some issues have surfaced regarding locations and ongoing watering/maintenance
A few trees were planted in locations where residents expressed objections to their location after planting
The watering program does not seem to be carried out uniformly across the Town;some areas have seen
consistent attention,but some locations have experienced a lack of attention.
Follow-up: Mark K reports that two trees have been removed where residents objected, and at least one
neighborhood that had been neglected now sees more consistent watering.
110 Trees for Our Town-Where?What?Who Knows?
Despite requests, Town government has not produced any type of list of:
Where the trees were planted(house numbers and streets)
What kind of tree was planted(Large deciduous?Coniferous?Small flowering?)
Town Leadership should be publicizing this effort;producing the locations and types planted is an excellent
demonstration of how a grant that our Town received is benefiting the environment.
Follow-up: Mark and Mitch may mention this at their meeting with Jaine and Meredith on July 31
Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
2024.0709—Collaborative Meeting Notes
Colonial Ave-can Natural Infrastructure and Safe Routes to School co-exist?
The Collab discussed what was the best way forward to advocate for a natural solution when sidewalk work
begins so as not to cut down trees. It was mentioned that Town Leadership may be sympathetic to hearing
from Colonial Ave residents on this issue,as they"have standing"on this issue. Collab to discuss further and
identify examples(e.g., last year's re-paving of Maple Hill)where the Town intentionally diverted sidewalks
around well-established trees to provide Safer Routes while maintaining natural Infrastructure
Follow-up: This will be an Agenda item on Aug 6,as part of"Safe Routes to School"discussion
Leaf Blower Ordinance Disrespect-can the Town do anything?
Residents and their gardeners in various neighborhoods across the Town seem to be ignoring the summertime
ban on leaf blowers. Can the Town do something to encourage compliance with established law?
Follow-up: Town Leadership issued a community-wide robocall the week of July 22 reminding residents of
their obligations.
OCRA Update-Commercial Composting Pilot Program-Chatsworth Ave/Larchmont Ave/Post Road area
OCRA students presented the history, trials, tribulations,successes,shortcomings and lessons learned from
their 6-month pilot program on back-door compost pick-ups at three restaurants in the Chatsworth/Post
Road/Larchmont Ave area.A remarkable study with valuable lessons learned for Larchmont-
Mamaroneck....and beyond. The OCRA team,now entering their senior year, will continue the pilot program
and hopes to expand it to two or more additional locations.
The Collab applauded the OCRA students for their energy,persistence,and willingness to dive into the middle
of one of the most difficult corners of composting and congratulated the team on its efforts.
Follow up: The Collab suggested that this OCRA presentation should be promoted to LMC Media.
Westchester Joint Water Works(WJWW): rates going up?
Mark K briefed the Collab on pending action by Town Leadership to sharply increase resident water
consumption rates to help meet the Town's percentage of on-going obligations. Settlement of legal actions has
left WJWW with a large CAPEX burden, which the Town proposes to carry through a combination of higher
water use rates("pay as you go")and Town Bonding("proportional to land value, with no correlation to water
use or family size"). It was noted that while the CAPEX burden will be shared by all communities involved from
New Rochelle to Harrison,municipality-by-municipality decisions may result in remarkable different results in
use rates:
• while the Town of Mamaroneck proposes to charge$9.30 per cu ft(16,500 gallons)of water consumed,
• the neighboring Village of Mamaroneck is proposing only$6.30 per cu ft(16,500 gallons)
It was noted that while each person may vary in their"interior"daily water use according to habits in bathing,
cooking,and cleaning, the largest"low-hanging fruit"to reduce water costs is what we do"outside"on our
property. In response to the Collab's question, "How can we help residents conserve water?" Two clear
options are:
• Every Yard should be a Healthy Yard, with water-guzzling grass minimized/eliminated,and native,
drought-resistant plantings which don't require watering instead
Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
2024.0709—Collaborative Meeting Notes
• For those residents who might not be ready to convert to a Healthy Yard,James Boes, a NY State-
licensed Irrigation Auditor, advocates changing from "top-down"(by hose or sprayer)or"ground level"
(sprinkler)approaches to high-efficiency, sensor-based software-controlled irrigation systems.
James noted that while the average residential in-ground sprinkler system is at best 50%efficient,golf course
systems are typically 95%efficient. How do golf course do that?Through a combination of soil-and weather-
based sensors, unneeded watering is prevented,reducing waste and expense. The systems golf courses use
are now available to homeowners,and can be implemented as part of a program that starts with an audit of
present systems and their performance.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM