00:48:54 LIMBA Administrator: You may ask questions here in chat. I can either ask them for you, or I can allow you to un-mute and ask for your self. 00:49:11 LIMBA Administrator: The Q&A portion will start around 9:30 or shortly thereafter. 00:52:48 Allison Singh: I am from East Setauket and a member of BLARG. I have a question about the “shortly thereafter” comment - we want a guarantee that it will close in 2024 not because it is full but because of the impact on the community and the harm caused to all of Long Island. In light of the evidence of harm and environmental injustice, can you guarantee it will close in 2024? 00:54:49 Lee Silberman Habitat: Remember Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk's ReStore for repurposing furniture, kithens, and working appliances. 00:55:05 Lee Silberman Habitat: https://habitatsuffolk.networkforgood.com/projects/124492-donation-page-2021 00:55:45 Mary Anne Mathys: What is the possibility of moving trash off island by rail? This could b a federal mandate so local towns cannot object. My company had a 40 year experience in Waste Management and we predicted this issue years ago. Formerly George's Sanitation 00:56:15 Annelies Kamran: I live in Brookhaven hamlet and I would like to see the Town's plan for closing and remediating the landfill in 2024. 00:56:19 lynne: Do we "raise" our hands or put stack in the chat to ask a question? 00:57:06 csamul: There are already markets for glass beverage containers. we transport nearly 50,000 tons per year for remanufacture for new bottles. 00:57:47 abena asare: It is possible to reduce C&D waste through deconstruction and construction reuse/recycle policies, I wish the Town would explore some of these, 00:58:12 LIMBA Administrator: I will ask these questions once the Q&A portion begins. 00:58:39 abena asare: I also have a few questions to ask live, please. 00:58:52 Ryan Madden (he/him), LIPC: Why has the Supervisor not been responsive to the letter submitted by over 50 organizations and 50 civic leaders from Long Island about the larger community concerns over regional waste management planning and the need for robust community participation in determining the future of the Brookhaven Landfill and other issues related to polluting infrastructure in the community? Relatedly, since the Town did make the correct decision to not go through with the proposed ashfill, why was there no reference to the history of environmental injustice surrounding this issue in that decision? There is a historical erasure of the environmental justice impacts surrounding the Landfill and it’s unacceptable. Voices of those most impacted by this issue need to be shaping the future of the landfill and there has been no effort to prioritize that. 00:59:28 Jim Armstrong: Shipping by rail makes a tremendous amount of sense - traffic and wear and tear on roads but also the carbon footprint of shipping. But a key question - is there somewhere "out there" that will take ash and solid waste? And is there any cost esimate for shipping waste? 00:59:29 Judy Greco: Hi, I am a member of the Steering Committee for the Long Island Organics Council. We have our first meeting on Wednesday, April 14 around 7/8 PM (if anyone is interested in discussing the future of organic waste). There are currently a few efforts being made in creating composting facilities on Long Island, including an initiative I am starting myself. We would like to see more people in state legislature pushing for and supporting composting facilities here on Long Island. 00:59:53 LIMBA Administrator: @Ryan, I will unmute you to allow you to ask that question. I dont think I can ask it properly 01:00:29 LIMBA Administrator: @abena I will unmute you later to ask a question 01:00:37 abena asare: Thanks! 01:00:43 Ryan Madden (he/him), LIPC: Yes, thank you! 01:00:59 LIMBA Administrator: @everyone we have a large group. Please get right to your qeustion 01:00:59 lynne: Yes, the Superviser needs to respond to his constituents!!! 01:01:04 Jim Armstrong: Has the fuel cell effort already commenced or will there be an RFP for fuel cell providers? 01:02:00 lynne: What about REFILLABLE bottles??? 01:04:53 Allison Singh: Can I also ask my questions personally? Thanks so much! 01:07:28 abena asare: Please I would like to respond. Since the supervisor has spoken directly to me 01:07:29 lynne: WE ALL SPEAK for NORTH BELLPORT Mr. Supervisor!!!!!! 01:07:56 WFlower: Thank you for promoting zero waste. More importantly thank you for your leadership on solid waste issues on Long Island. What do you think are the next steps for developing a comprehensive solid waste plan? 01:09:30 Judy Greco: We need a push for packaging that is COMPOSTABLE! Can we make this happen in the near future? Recyclable packaging is good, but we need a push for compostable packaging as well. 01:10:47 Kathi: Thank you, Allison ! 01:11:19 abena asare: I am disheartened that the Supervisor feels the only ones who can care about environmental injustice are those who live within a particular community. No wonder we are where we are. 01:13:14 Allison Singh: Thank you. 01:13:55 Joe Cline: Please discuss tax implications to home owners in Brookhaven when landfill revenue is lost. 01:14:44 lynne: Since when did it become disingenious to care about our community? 01:14:57 abena asare: Since the supervisor did not answer my questions. I will put them here for the public record. 01:16:57 lynne: I have a question 01:17:02 Jennifer Greene: No, there was nothing in the Town’s announcement about environmental justice. 01:17:51 Joe Cline: Private Sand Mines along Miller Place Road are 5-10 feet into ground water. It would appear very little State monitoring is occurring. What would prevent private landfills from being proposed in these locations when Town Landfill closes? 01:18:41 Shoshana Hershkowitz: It's not about political affiliation. It's about responding to a community impacted by environmental justice issues. 01:18:42 abena asare: We will reach out again to the town supervisor to try to set up a meeting. 01:18:51 abena asare: We have been trying for 8 months. 01:19:10 Shoshana Hershkowitz: All BLARG meetings have been virtual. 01:19:14 Ryan Madden (he/him), LIPC: Another purposeful undercutting tactic. This has nothing to do with his political affiliation. 01:19:37 LIMBA Administrator: Yes, he has committed to a meeting. Please keep LIMBA posted about when you are meeting. 01:19:39 Ryan Madden (he/him), LIPC: Shamelessly disingenuous. 01:20:27 Jennifer Greene: And for the record, I’ve voted for Mr. Romaine in the past. I’m disappointed that he would dismiss constituents this way. 01:20:45 abena asare: We will keep LIMBA posted and inform you of the progress. Please share an email address so we can keep LIMBA in the loop 01:20:51 Annelies Kamran: same here, Jennifer Greene 01:21:15 Allison Singh: We look forward to meeting. You will be happy to meet our diverse group from across Brookhaven. Many folks with government experience, scientists, lawyers, business owners, professors, community activists. Many of the “experts” you are looking to meet with. Welcome! 01:21:27 lynne: My question speaks directly to this question 01:22:01 abena asare: Regarding the state DEC: The DEC did offer the town substantive comments in 2018 on their unapproved solid waste management plan. The Town has not responded to the DEC’s comments. 01:25:12 Jim Armstrong: Isnt ground glass kind of like sand? Why mine sand if we can use the glass powder you showed us 01:25:48 Judy Greco: What legislature needs to be pushed and when can it be pushed to force businesses to have packaging that is only compostable or recyclable (regenerative)? How can we create system that enforces and cultivates that? 01:29:09 michael madigan: We are in the beginning stage os starting TALZ Taking a Lead on Zero Waste, to be working with the State, the Legislature and many other groups such as the LI Organics Council. If you are interested, please let me know. E-mail e blumerat growingwild@iCloud.com. Thanks, Karen 01:31:40 Ryan Madden (he/him), LIPC: The Brookhaven Landfill Action & Remediation Group (BLARG) has convened conversations with DEC, Covanta, Winter Bros., and the Ad Hoc committee who advised the town on the ash fill. We have been able to bring together the relevant stakeholders to move forward conversations on landfill remediation, zero waste strategies, and addressing the history of environmental injustice around waste issues. The only people who have not been responsive to joining our (virtual) meetings have been elected officials from the Town of Brookhaven, and specifically Supervisor Romaine. Glad we now have public commitment to meet with us because it’s taken 8 months and calling him out in front of an audience to get a response. 01:32:13 R_BEN: Judy Greco - Please send me info on the meeting Robert B. Bender email r_bender @msn.com 01:32:40 Susan Beckett: May i ask a question? 01:32:44 LIMBA Administrator: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abenaasare/ 01:32:45 Annelies Kamran: I have a question about zero waste 01:33:00 Jennifer Greene: I have a brief question about EJ. 01:33:12 abena asare: Judy Greco! I am excited about your organic waste diversion effort, please add me to your list. abena2002@gmail.com 01:33:41 Ryan Madden (he/him), LIPC: Judy, come to BLARG meetings, we’d love to discuss your work! 01:33:49 abena asare: We are also looking to get a community composting program off the ground in North Bellport, we’d love to chat more. 01:33:57 abena asare: (And Brookhaven hamlet) LOL 01:34:27 Shoshana Hershkowitz: Is there time for me to ask a question? 01:35:34 abena asare: The question was why is North Bellport and questions of environmental redress not a part of the planning for the future of the Landfill. 01:35:36 Shoshana Hershkowitz: BLARG has met virtually for the entirety of its existence. 01:36:25 abena asare: There has to be a post-landfill future. The Landfill site will continue to be next door to North Bellport. The landfill site must be put to effective reuse and possibly cleaned up 01:36:56 Judy Greco: Thank you everyone! I will send out information on the meeting ASAP to whoever is interested in attending. @ Ryan, I would love to attend a BLARG meeting! 01:36:58 abena asare: The community needs a voice in that planning, sir 01:37:07 abena asare: You cannot make that decision alone 01:37:38 abena asare: It’s fine 01:37:46 Allison Singh: Why the negative attacks? Please we are better than this. 01:37:53 Ryan Madden (he/him), LIPC: Judy, email LandfillAction631@gmail.com 01:37:54 abena asare: It it totally fine 01:37:59 abena asare: I think we have all seen a lot. 01:38:05 michael madigan: How much of the $20 Million for Municipal coordination was spent on the ash fill. A line item was required and it is inconceivable that it was all spent on planning or assessment. How much was spent on that and is there a copy available? 01:38:22 abena asare: Michael Madigan— $2 million was spent on the planning for the ashfill 01:38:45 abena asare: If you’re interested in what that was spent on, please reach out. 01:39:16 Susan Beckett: Please remember that the people in the North Bellport area have been and continue to live with—in their homes—all aspects of the Town’s garbage. You may just put yours at the end of your driveway but they are the ones who ultimately have to live with it every day. 01:39:19 Shoshana Hershkowitz: Supervisor Romaine continues to mention political affiliation. I would hope he'd encourage the freshman state senators he supported, Weik, Palumbo, and Mattera to join the majority in pursuing environmental justice. 01:39:56 Jim Armstrong: SOunds like those who want a voice should also be after the NYS DEC to help address this as well. Brookhaven hits the wall at the DEC no matter what solution is being considered. 01:39:56 abena asare: @Judy Ryan is speaking at BLARG this evening at 5pm 01:40:21 abena asare: Please join us! 01:40:26 Charlie Bartha: Well done Supervisor Romaine. Very comprehensive and inclusive. 01:40:37 Susan Beckett: I would think the Town has a stronger influence over the DEC than we do—please, Supervisor: advocate for us. 01:40:55 Ryan Madden (he/him), LIPC: So he does know who we are!