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Home My WebLink About2025_12_09 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative/CSC Task Force 3�r of MaMar0 2025.12 09 Meeting Notes s� c� TOWN OF MAMARONECK SUSTAINABILITY COLLABORATIVE Mr/ December 9,2025-- MEETING NOTES SIStainabOt' Attendees: Mark Kramer, Mitch Green, Andrea Hirsch, Mark Manley, Sue Odierna, Arlene Novich, Roger Weiss, Irene Ochs-Lilienne, Dierdre Littauer, Kevin Crowe, Frank Clem, Arthur Katz, June Wallach, Robin Nichinsky,Jaine Elkind Eney, Darren Moss, Raphael(student). Guests: Peter Linderoth and Allison Rugila from the organization,Save the Sound Acceptance of the Meeting Notes The Notes from the November Sustainability Collaborative Meeting were accepted. Introduction of New Town Board Member Town Board Member-Elect Darren Moss was introduced to the Sustainability Collaborative. Darren has attended some recent "Collab"meetings. Currently, Darren is a member of the Recreation Commission, having been appointed in February of 2023, but he will turn in his "rec hat"for a Town Board hat when he is officially sworn in on January 14, 2026. Darren noted that he is excited to be part of the Town Board and hopes to bring more transparency to the Town and involve more community residents in Town affairs. Save the Sound(STS)Presentation-2025 State of the Sound Importance of Long Island Sound(LIS) Biggest Challenges: • Wastewater pollution • Storm water pollution • Climate Change What does STS do? • They grade 200+ beaches along LIS for water quality and produce the Long Island Sound Beach Report every two years. This report is based on water quality data. Each week during swimming season, water samples are taken by local beach monitors (in most places along Long Island Sound, this is arranged by health departments). These water samples are analyzed for levels of bacteria. • Ecological Restoration Program • "Soundkeeper"(their boat on the Sound),patrolling bays and harbors,finds and reports water quality problems • Staff in Albany- trying to get legislation passed (examples: advocating for a ban on PFAS chemicals, which are found in everything from household products to cosmetics to menstrual products). Questions asked about how fertilizer affects the Sound, how important it is to talk to homeowners and their landscapers about when to fertilize, and to use organic products. Mitch mentioned that there is another election in November 2026 and wondered what is something that the Town Supervisor could advocate for and get the Town Board(TB)to pass as a policy piece of legislation that would further demonstrate her environmental priorities? 1 Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative/CSC Task Force 2025.12 09 Meeting Notes STS suggested: lncentivizing reductions on impervious properties in residential homes since storm water is a major bacterial source in LIS. Also, flooding efforts that help improve water quality, not just other benefits of flood control. He suggested signing up for"Sewage Pollution Right to Know"—https://alert.ny.gov/so that you can receive a real-time alert regarding sewage discharges near your local waterway. (You can also sign up for other alerts at this address.) We thanked Peter and Allison for their excellent, informative presentation. Note: If you missed the meeting, STS left us with several copies of the Save the Sound 2025 Long Island Sound Beach Report, which is an excellent publication, containing beach grades for all beaches along the Sound and information about the various challenges affecting water quality and what we can do to help. These copies are located just inside the Town Center entrance by reception on the first floor and also, on the hallway table just before the Supervisor/Administrator office suite on the second floor.Additionally, if you'd like to become a member of STS ($25), your donation will be doubled if you join by 12/31/2025 -- https://www.savethesound.org/. Sanitation Survey The Town Board liked the survey—one change was to call the sanitation facility, the"Maxwell Avenue Recycling Facility" (not the transfer station). Robin reported that the majority of the Town Board wanted to wait to distribute it due to negotiations between the VoL and ToNI, which they are hoping will be finalized in the coming weeks. Mark reminded the group of an upcoming sanitation commission meeting(this took place on Thursday, December 11 t"). Discussion ensued that the VoL will be sending out the survey planned for January, even if the Town does not. Mayor's Monarch Report Sue gave the Town's report on the Mayor's Monarch Pledge for 2025. She explained what the pledge is all about. For those new volunteers who may not be aware of this initiative, the highlighted portion below is taken from their homepage -- Mayors and other heads of local and tribal governmen are taking action to help save the monarch butterfly, an iconic species whose eastern populations have declined by 90% and western populations by 99% in recent years. Through he National Wildlife Federation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge, U.S. cities, municipalities,and othe communities are committing to create habitat for the monarch butterfly and pollinators, and to educate residents about how they can make a difference at home and in their community. Sue reported that for the last several years, Sustainability Collaborative member Kevin Crowe has kept track of actions the Town has taken in an effort to save the monarch butterfly(thank you, again, Kevin!) For 2025,Sue reported on the actions--based on input received from Collab volunteers who worked on projects all year that were related to native gardens and how they communicate to residents their importance. In addition, Sue frequently posted on the Town's (and community) FB pages regarding healthy yards,pollinators, leaving the leaves, etc. Discussion ensued on what more we can do in the next year to help create more habitats for pollinators. Robin mentioned that when the Roundabout is created, there will be sustainable greenery put in the area. Deirdre commented that it would also be nice to have gardens in parts of Memorial Park and the area by New Jefferson. Mark suggested we put a native garden in the Palmer/Weaver triangle. Taking all this in, Mitch suggested we find a landscaper who could suggest areas for potential native gardens. Note: To read the Town of Mamaroneck 2025 Mayors'Monarch Report, please click (this is also posted to the Sustainability Collaborative webpage- https://www.townofmamaroneckny.gov/324/Sustainability-Collaborative 2 Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative/CSC Task Force 2025.12 09 Meeting Notes Other Mark asked Robin if there was any feedback on the Collab's idea of doing a noise study in the 1-95 area. Robin explained that the budget is first and foremost at this time, and that is the priority for 2026, but she did bring this issue to the Town Board's attention. Leaf Blower Enforcement There was some confusion at the meeting regarding leaf blower tickets. Mark Kramer reported that 87leaf blower calls were made to the Town in November regarding violations,and 27 people were given appearance tickets by the Police Department. Note: Because there was much discussion on this issue at the meeting,Sue followed up with the Police Department and was told,"Officers always have discretion to issue warnings." Sometimes, when they arrive,there isn't a violation taking place, so that could also be a reason fewer appearance tickets were given out compared to the number of calls that came in. County Gasoline Leaf Blower Ban Environmental groups have banded together and want to approach the County regarding a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers throughout the county in the summertime. Healthy Yards https://www.healthyyards.org/is spearheading this initiative. More details to come as we get more information. Social Event-Tri-Municipal Environmental Committees Mark announced that we will be having a social gathering, a potluck (changed date), on Thursday, February 5, 2026 from 7:30 pm -9:30 pm. This will take place at The Idea Kitchen, 1940 Palmer Avenue, Larchmont. Fall Tree Photography Exhibit Sue reported that she received 17 submissions. Opening Night of the Fall Tree Photo Exhibit was just before the Collab meeting on Tuesday, December 9t",from 5 pm—to 6 pm. There are 17 additional beautiful photos of trees now up in the hallway. These are in addition to the springtime tree exhibit photos,so come see what's up! The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 pm. 3