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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025_05_06 Sustainability Collaborative MinutesTown of Mamaroneck Sustainabitity Collaborative/CSC Task Force 2025.05.06 Meeting Notes TOWN OF MAMARONECK SUSTAINABILITY COLLABORATIVE May 6, 2025 -- MEETING NOTES Attendees: Mark Kramer, Mitch Green, Sue Odierna, Arlene Novich, Roger Weiss, Allen Reiter, Irene Ochs-Lilien, June Wallach, Andrea Hirsch, Roger Weiss, Mark Girvin, Robin Nichinsky, Lori Samberg, Arthur Katz, Peter Bruce, Karin Weisburgh, Sophie Dassesse-Cowles Approval of the Meeting Notes The Notes from the April Sustainability Collaborative Meeting were approved. Recap of Earth Day June reported there were some Healthy Yard signups, Mark mentioned an interesting display by an electric bus initiative. There was also a sports equipment swap, which was very well received in the community. Leftover equipment was donated to Larchmont Avenue Church. Recap of Compost Giveaway Day At least 90 residents/families participated in this very successful, annual event. Volunteers surveyed residents, asking how they found out about the Compost Giveaway event. Most claimed, "word of mouth," and others found out by Facebook or an email blast. Some came to the Maxwell Avenue Recycling Facility to drop off waste, saw there was a compost giveaway and went home fora bucket to return and participate. Other questions asked were if residents compost. Many do compost at home, or at Maxwell through our program, and some compost at both locations; fewer than 1/4 of respondents said they do not compost at all. Volunteers also asked if residents would give up one day of trash pickup to have curbside pickup of food scraps, and 45 residents said yes, while only 14 said no. There was some compost left over, and the Commission is using it in Larchmont and Mamaroneck. Sue also mentioned that Westchester County is continuing to give away free compost this month; you need to register in advance if you'd like to pick some up. Note: Two Compost Giveaway Days remain. See info here: https://www.fcebook.com/WestchesterCountyDEF Recap of Spring/Earth Day Cleanup: About20 volunteers attended the rescheduled Town Cleanup. Due to a rainy forecast, the annual spring cleanup was rescheduled from April 26t' to May 3'. Sue hosts the annual spring (and fall) cleanups with Environmental Coordinator, Elizabeth Aitchison and she reported that - although they lost a few volunteers with the change of date - it was still a good turnout of students, families, and adults eager to find trash on the mostly clean and well -maintained Leatherstocking Trail. Most items collected were recyclables such as soda cans and water bottles, and volunteers managed to collect some unusual finds: a mail carrier bin, a GPS tracker, and a large metal shovel. The next Cleanup will coincide with "International Cleanup Day" which is in September. Tree Photography Exhibit: Mitch suggested the exhibition opening could be on June 4t' since the Town Center is open late for a TB meeting that day. He suggested we have the opening at 4:30 pm, before the board meeting's start at 5 pm. Robin and/or Sue to discuss with Jaine. Sue noted that she Town of Mamaroneck Sustainabitity Collaborative/CSC Task Force 2025.05.06 Meeting Notes has only received two photos, and we need to promote this and try and get the word out if we'd like to have this exhibit. Note: I've attached the flyer. Please consider emailing it to your friends/neighbors and posting it to your social media accounts. Remember, if you have a great photo in your phone, you can email or bring it to Home Fair in Larchmont and they will print and matte it for you Q . Tree List: Arlene and Mitch are working on organizing the Tree List and will send it to Jaine, Meredith, Liz, Robin, and Sue shortly. OCRA Project: Helping Achieve Mamaroneck School District's Sustainabitity Statement: Three of the four students working on this OCRA project presented their ideas and progress: Henry Johnson, Ezra Katz, and Maggie Roseberry. This project's goal is to remake Mamaroneck's non - sports school fields into biodiverse, native plant areas. This includes planting in strips of grass that border buildings; the project extends beyond large fields. The students are looking for mentors to learn from, but in the meantime, they have been researching the best plants for the variety of areas that are included. They reviewed all parcels of land on MHS grounds and spoke with those knowledgeable about plants to determine which plants would do best in particular areas. They met with Pollinator Pathways for advice as well. Mark K. asked how they received permission from MHS to do this, because in the past, in the summertime, what OCRA kids had planted during the school term was partially demolished. They have posted signage so that students, workers, and the public understand what is happening there, and they hope this will protect the plants. The presentation was well received. Collabs asked, would school landscapers be displaced? The students responded that this will not be an issue, because the grounds workers have other duties and this initiative will not affect their work nor their hours. Mark K asked if they could send over the PowerPoint. Note: The OCRA PowerPoint is attached. New Pollinator Pathway Gardens - Potential Locations/Donors? Mitch asked the group for suggestions for additional pollinator garden locations on Town -owned property (we already have a pollinator garden near the entrance to Town Center). One possibility suggested was the Palmer/Weaver triangle, Larchmont Gardens Lake. And, so that the Town wouldn't have to budget for this garden, Mitch suggested, we could seek out donations, on an individual basis (not as a committee), for a potential pollinator garden. Based on the success of resident Ralph Engel, who solicited and received a $55,000 donation from a bank to donate to the ToM to plant 110 trees in the Town, why couldn't we attempt to raise funds for a garden? Mitch suggested this could be a tax deduction for those who donate. Other Allen Reiter announced that a member of the Village of Mamaroneck Board has proposed reversing their gasoline -powered leaf blower ban. He asked that several Collabs attend the next Village of Mamaroneck board meeting to speak up against this reversal.