MINUTES
COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Joint w/WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
FACUTLY SENATE COMMITTEE
Thursday, April 26, 2001
3:00 P.M.
PRESENT: M. Kaplowitz, Chair; U. LaMotte; V. Pinto.
STAFF: S. Bass, Prog. Spec.; C. Ryer, Sec’y.
ALSO PRESENT: WCC: Sheldon Malev (Host); Bridgette Anderson; Fred Boyer, Dean/VP and WCC Administrator.
RCC: Robert Schuler; Lorinda Gussow.
DISCUSSION:
The meeting was called to order at 3:12 p.m., and Chair Kaplowitz opened with a brief description of the functions of the Board of Legislators and the Environment Committee, he then introduced the Committee and staff members.
Chair Kaplowitz explained that the Committee was invited to this forum to listen and absorb the efforts of the Faculty Senate Environment (FSE) Committee, then turned the meeting over to the host, Sheldon Malev. Mr. Malev welcomed the County’s Environment Committee and emphasized that this is an unprecedented meeting, which has never before taken place on the WCC Campus. He continued, with the recognition of his students, then introducing the faculty and staff members, while giving a brief description of the Faculty Senate Environment Committee. Mr. Malev added that the College is celebrating “Earthday” and participating in the recycling efforts. The anti-smoking efforts of the FSE-Committee have also been successful. Smoking is allowed outside the building, with the forming a smoking chamber, however, the Committee is considering adopting the rule of “no-smoking within 25-feet” of the building entrances, and the possibility of a “non-smoking campus” environment.
MINUTES
w/WCC – Faculty Senate Env. Comm.
Mr. Malev continued on, to specify the goals of the SFE-Committee and handed out a “draft proposal” with a request to create and fill two positions: (1) Environmental Resource Manager (ERM); and (2) a Recycling Coordinator. He added that draft was produced on recycled paper, and in the efforts of recycling, he would like to see the College obtain a higher quality of recycling paper for use on campus. The draft proposal gave a description of both positions (copy in ENV files). Mr. Malev emphasized that the importance of recycling is to prepare the environment for future generations. Mr. Malev then introduced Bridgette Anderson, a WCC Administrator who is in charge of the campus ground plants and facilities. Ms. Anderson briefly explained staff responsibilities, and the importance of housekeeping and recycling on campus.
Jim Hogan of the County DEF, was introduced next. He brought literature for distribution, to advertise the clean-up and recycling events at the College on June 8 & 9, for Household Chemical Clean-up Day. Chair Kaplowitz interjected that Legislator Pinto was instrumental in focusing and expanding the program on Household Hazardous Waste clean-up efforts and Composting (organic yard waste) recycling and clean-up efforts. It was emphasized that Legislator Pinto’s program was also instrumental as the framework for WCC’s recycling efforts.
Mr.
Malev then introduced Robert Schuler,
Plant Facilities Director at Rockland Community College, who gave a brief
background on his colleague, Lorinda
Gussow, Technical Assistant/Maintenance Manage-ment, (specializing in
recycling). Mr. Schuler mentioned that
Ms. Gussow has been with RCC for about two years, and her efforts have focused
on planning and preparing recycling programs to be implemented throughout the
college. Mr. Malev added that the
recycling effort is also recognized as a “behavioral change program”. He continued, explaining that his department
(psychology) focuses on the
MINUTES
w/WCC – Faculty Senate Env. Comm.
study of behavior, emphasizing that environmental conservation relates to psychology – noting that behavior is shaped by the environment. He added that environmental conservation through education, such as behavior modification, reinforcement, advertising, publicity, and (most importantly) leadership, will help create a desire for change. Mr. Malev then turned the meeting over to Ms. Gussow.
Ms. Gussow reiterated the importance of recycling, noting that it is necessary, in order to create and maintain a healthy environment. She continued with showing a visual presentation on recycling and its effectiveness. An emphasis was placed on the recycling of paper, glass, and the importance of composting. In the year 2000, RCC saved over 70-tons of paper, and over 12-tons of glass, metal and plastic, which resulted in a savings of over $5,100 – and earnings of almost $3,000 in rebates, with a total combined savings of over $8,000 in the one year. Ms. Gussow spoke of a company that makes a “compostible component” for everything disposable being used in a cafeteria. Items such as: plates, cups, cutlery, straws, etc. She added that the plastic in not made of plastic, but is made of corn-sugar, and will bio-degrade to “nothing” (disappear) in 45-days. Her anticipation is to devise a “zero-waste building” (at RCC) – meaning that everything is either reused, recycled, composted, or taken home; and that nothing will be wasted. Some of the suggestions included the conversion of landscape to organics, instead of chemicals; publicity methodologies through campus publications; all campus e-mail; personal visits to key departments and personnel; encourage participation through “recycling rangers”, etc. The Administration must actively support the program, and there must be a consistency, through the use of words and pictures, using the same colors all the time to visually explain the systems of recycling.
There
was more discussion with regard to implementing recycling effectively, so it
will eventually work for all. Some
suggestions were
MINUTES
w/WCC – Faculty Senate Env. Comm.
PAGE 4
made, including an emphasis on starting and effective recycling program with all colleges by requiring that the colleges purchase recycled products for use on campus, and having their clubs involved in community clean-up efforts. A brief question and answer period followed the presentation. Joseph Steinman, WCC Student President, suggested that a letter be sent to the County Attorney inquiring about the laws on smoking within 15-feet of the campus buildings. Betty Wamsley questioned if “Adopt-a-Campus” would be feasible, such as the “Adopt-a-Highway/Park”, programs that exist. Chair Kaplowitz responded that he would be looking for areas of recycling and monitoring in that realm, and hope to be able to have another such meeting on the campus.
*ATTACHED VISITOR’S LIST
Name Affiliation
Britt Argow** WCC Professor
Giovanna Valdina WCC Student
Ethel Vela WCC Student
Eric Jagentenfl WCC Student
Anna Olchawa WCC Student
Manuela Berns WCC Student
Janina Doderer WCC Student
Katie Cumberland WCC Student
Firdavs Alirnov WCC Student
Nancy Escalante WCC Student
Elihna Rojas WCC Student
Brian Hunt WCC Student
Gennaro Zingone WCC Student
Stephen Ramesor WCC Student
Larry Mastiabrook WCC Student
Amparo Garood WCC Student
Mario D’Amore WCC Student
Susan Intravaia WCC Student
MINUTES
w/WCC – Faculty Senate Env. Comm.
PAGE 5
*ATTACHED VISITOR’S LIST (continued)
Name Affiliation
Jennifer Rosenberg WCC Student
James Hogan WC/DEF
Noell Bucci** (Sec’y) WCC-FS Env. Comm.
Jorge Marmol WC/Public Works-Eng.
William Tarrant WCC Professor (Bd. Mbr.)
Celia Clark WCC Student
Riatibha Vuppuluir WCC Student
Betty Wamsley WCC Foundation Board
Wilner Luciamar WCC Student
Tara Palompelli WCC Student
Richard Van Inuegen** WCC Professor
Fred Boyar WCC Faculty
Bernard Koser** WCC Professor
Michael Priano** WCC Faculty
Tiziana Di Firma WCC Student
Maya Edistein WCC Student
Richard Putnam** WCC-FS Env. Comm.
Bridgette Anderson WCC Administration
Valerie Kraus WCC Staff
Dennis Bochuhis WCC Staff
Kate Ray WCC Student
Julie Scherrer WCC Student
Marina Zamboli WCC Student
Joseph Steinman WCC Student-President
Suzanne Putnam WCC Professor
Ebony Belcher WCC Student
Paul Avenano WCC Student
**FSE-Committee Members
With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m., on the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator Pinto.