Climate Smart Communities
Sign in

Climate Smart Communities Certification Report

Download PDF Version

bronze Certified

This is the Climate Smart Communities Certification Report of Roseboom, Town (Otsego). Roseboom, Town (Otsego) is a bronze certified Climate Smart Community.

Roseboom, Town (Otsego) was certified on September 19, 2022 with 133 points earned from 16 completed actions. Listed below is information regarding Roseboom, Town (Otsego)’s Climate Smart Communities efforts and materials associated with its certified actions.

The certification for Roseboom, Town (Otsego) will expire on September 30, 2027.

Contact Information

The designated Climate Smart Communities contact for Roseboom, Town (Otsego) is:

Name:Allegra Schecter
Title/Position:Councilperson / Roseboom Town Board
Address:211 Adair Rd
Cherry Valley, NY 13320

Actions Implemented

Each approved action and supporting documentation for which Roseboom, Town (Otsego) was approved for in 2022 appears below. Note: Standards for the actions below may have changed and the documentation listed may no longer satisfy requirements for that action.

  • 1. Build a climate-smart community.

    PE1 Action: CSC Task Force

    20 Points
    Bronze Mandatory Silver Mandatory

    Program Summary: UPDATE: A new CSC Task Force Resolution with 4 year term limits was passed on Oct. 14, 2021. It re-appoints the Town Supervisor, Patti Gustafson, Town Board members Curtis Vandewerker, Charles Diamond, and Steven Gridley, along with Town Highway Supervisor Dan Gage, and two local business people, Mary Jo Cronin, a solar company owner, and Bob Schecter a software company owner, as the CSC Task Force. Town Board member, Allegra Schecter, is CSC Coordinator. For our small Town, this is the perfect Task Force. We meet monthly, as opposed to bi-annually. These are the people who can help get the CSC Actions done, from passing resolutions to installing LED light fixtures in the Town Garage. The proof is the fact that our Town is applying for the CSC Bronze level for the 2nd time. CSC Comments were made that the minutes were Town Board minutes, not CSC Task Force minutes. But they are one and the same. The CSC discussions brought up at the Board meeting by the Coordinator are highlighted or listed separately. Actions are able to be completed because of the full support of the Board/Task Force. We are adding CSC meeting minutes for Feb/Mar/May/Nov. 2021. Also CSC Task Force Minutes from October 2020 - there weren't many meetings then because of Covid. ORIGINAL: Resolution #4 - 2019 Municipal Resolution appointing a Climate Smart Communities Task Force and description of duties. Roseboom is a very small town. Its population in the 2020 census was 760, in 340 family units. The Task Force is comprised of the Town Board members and 2 local business representatives. The Board meets monthly, with the CSC Coordinating Council member and at least one of the two CSC local business representatives usually present. CSC discussions can and will take place more than twice annually, as needed. Town Board minutes supporting the resolution and Town committee meeting minutes are two of the meetings where the CSC mission and the current CSC salt shed grant project was discussed.

    PE1 Action: CSC Coordinator

    10 Points
    Bronze Mandatory Silver Mandatory

    Program Summary: UPDATE: A new Climate Smart Communities Coordinator Resolution was passed on October 14, 2021. It gives me, Allegra Schecter, an additional 4 year term as CSC Coordinator. I was also just re-elected this November 2021 to another 4 year term as Town Council member, so I can continue coordinating with the Town Board CSC Task Force in the Town of Roseboom. I was the one responsible for the July 2, 2021 Roseboom application for the CSC Bronze Level and I am responsible for the Jan. 2, 2022 submission as well. ORIGINAL: Roseboom Resolution #3 - 2019 Municipal Resolution appointing a Climate Smart Communities Coordinator and description of duties. Letter of commitment to Otsego County Climate Smart Communities Institute

    PE1 Action: National/Regional Climate Program

    3 Points

    Program Summary: UPDATE: The Town of Roseboom has since received the $5000 grant money in August 2021, We earned it in 2019, but they had run out of funds by the time we completed all the Actions. We are planning on putting it toward a new HVAC system. ORIGINAL: See our CEC Certification approved email. We completed 4 High impact Actions: Benchmarking: Adopt a policy to report the energy use of buildings LED Street Lights: Convert street lights to energy-efficient LED technology Unified Solar Permit: Streamline the approvals process for solar Energy Code Enforcement Training: Train compliance officers in energy code best practices

    PE1 Action: Partnerships with Other Entities

    3 Points

    Program Summary: The Town of Roseboom has been part of the Mohawk Valley Region Climate Smart Institute since July 2019. We have worked with them on the GHG Government Survey, and other actions. I have attended all meetings and webinars hosted by Amy Wyant , CEC Coordiantor of the Institute. We are also working with Amanda Kaier, a Clean Energy Communities Coordinator, on HVAC System upgrades for the Town. She has helped us put out a RFP to local contractors for estimate proposals. The Town of Roseboom has attended all the pre-requisite County workshops for Hazard Mitigation and adopted the Otsego County Hazard Mitigation Plan in August 2021.

  • 2. Inventory emissions, set goals, and plan for climate action.

    PE2 Action: Government Operations GHG Inventory

    16 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The town of Roseboom's government operations GHG data is available online: https://townofroseboom.com/climate-smart-community The total emissions for 2020 were estimated to be approximately 1502 MTCO2e. The largest source was employee commuting. The government GHG Inventory was done in 2021 under the guidance of the Mohawk Valley Region Climate Smart Institute using the US EPA Local GHG Inventory Tool (Gov't Operations Module). The town has only one municipal building, no sewage treatment plants, municipal water, or landfills. We tracked our electricity usage in KWH through National Grid and NEXAMP credits. We tracked the diesel used as heating fuel in the Town barn and the diesel for our heavy duty trucks, plows, and sanders separately. The Roseboom Town trucks do not track their individual mileage or fuel. So using the advice of Andrea Denny from the US EPA, we divided the total diesel consumed by the number of vehicles we use (6) for the mobile inventory calculations. (In addition, Andrea Denney helped guide us with the market based contractual NEXAMP solar electricity agreements.) The town sent out a RFP on October 25, 2021 to local HVAC installers, asking for quotes on a ground source heat pump to replace the 12-year-old diesel boiler now used to heat the Town Garage. A heat pump run by electricity, possibly eventually using solar panel, would almost totally eliminate GHG emissions.

  • 3. Decrease energy use.

    PE3 Action: Interior Lighting Upgrades

    5 Points

    Program Summary: UPDATE: The Town of Roseboom has only one municipal building, the Town Barn. ALL 16 of the lighting fixtures in the garage have been replaced with LEDs. The purchase invoices were included with pictures of the ceiling. The May 2021 CSC Task Force minutes approved the decision to convert to all LEDs in the Town garage and that Action was completed in June 2021 with the help of Task Force members. ORIGINAL: !00% of fluorescent tube lighting in the Town garage had ballasts removed and then were replaced with 25 KT-LED25T5HO-48GC-850-DX2 in June 2021 2 other specific area lights were replaced with 38WLED YD in May 2021 2 Pictures of the lighting fixtures after replacement

    PE3 Action: Benchmarking - Municipal Buildings

    2 Points

    Program Summary: Benchmarking Resolution Town of Roseboom Nov. 2018 NYSERDA notification of approval Dec. 2018

    PE3 Action: LED Street Lights

    8 Points

    Program Summary: When I first wrote up this CSC Action in 2019, the PDF said 100% LED conversion was worth 10 points with proof of use. When I updated the entry now, I see it is only worth 8 points. I have attached a copy of the PDF showing the 10 pt value, along with the before and after LED streetlight KWH usage in my uploaded PDF "National Grid Streetlight comparison". You will see the KWH used for streetlighting in 2015 was 10,643 and in 2019 only 2,294 KWH. Quite the difference! We were among the very first in our area to order them in July 2016, long before CEC. We had already contacted the PSC in Jan. 2016 about LED conversion - before National Grid even had tariffs figured out. (see letter to PSC). Therefore, I would like to humbly request the original 10 point value. Thank you. National Grid Inventory Including a receipt for completed 100% Street Light conversion. Clean Energies Communities Calculator for 100% streetlights Nov. 2018 NYSERDA CEC Notification for LED Streetlights National Grid invoice 2017 in the Comparison PDF

    PE3 Action: Outdoor Lighting Upgrades

    4 Points

    Program Summary: UPDATE: The Town of Roseboom owns only one municipal building, the Town Garage. The only exterior lighting on it is 4 security LED lights converted in 2016. See the signed affirmation (PE3 Action Outdoor Lighting Upgrades) that we only have 4 exterior lights. ORIGINAL: The Town of Roseboom converted ALL 4 of the exterior Security lights on the outside of the Municipal Garage to LED's in August 2016. (See attached invoices) Picture of Town Barn exterior lighting fixtures. The Town of Roseboom only has 4 exterior lights, that are not streetlights.

    PE3 Action: Energy Code Enforcement Training

    5 Points

    Program Summary: Our local Codes Officer completed this training for CEC certification.

  • 4. Shift to clean, renewable energy.

    PE4 Action: Green Power Procurement Policy

    4 Points

    Program Summary: The Town of Roseboom signed up with NEXAMP to procure green solar power credits in September 2019. We did not realize we would not start getting credits until Feb. 2021! Town Board Committee Meeting minutes discussing NEXAMP Community Solar Town Board Meeting MOTION Approval of the NEXAMP Solar Agreement NEXAMP Community Solar Agreement NEXAMP Contract NEXAMP Confirmation letter NEXAMP invoice Feb, 2021

  • 5. Use climate-smart materials management.

    PE5 Action: Recycling Bins in Government Buildings

    3 Points

    Program Summary: RESPONSE UPDATE: Since the two recycling bins were installed, the Town switched to a new Trash Hauler that provided their own recycling and trash containers, which are located in the Town Garage area. I printed a list of recyclable items and attached it to all 3 bins. However, even without the lists, we have been recycling for years and already knew what was acceptable and what wasn't. I took new photos of the bins, see below. The garage area is by necessity a dirty work place, which accounts for their non-pristine condition. Original: The Roseboom Town Barn has only two areas where trash bins are located. One in the Highway Superintendents office and one in the Highway Garage area. There are no other employee areas. Improvised Recycling bins have always been there, but now 2 new recycling receptacles have replaced them. Recycling logos were downloaded and printed out to identify them. See attached photos of the 2 recycling bins in place, the receipt for the 2 bins and the Recycling Resolution for the Town of Roseboom.

  • 6. Implement climate-smart land use.

    PE6 Action: Comprehensive Plan with Sustainability Elements

    21 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: UPDATE: We appreciated the detailed analysis of our original submission, and the time that was taken to review our responses with suggested constructive improvements. We have used that guidance to help us respond to the feedback comments (see Feedback for Sustainable Comp Plan and NRI Law.pdf) with additional information that should now satisfy all the requirements for this PE6 Action, and meet with your approval. Thank you, Allegra Schecter CSC Coordinator ORIGINAL: The small Town of Roseboom has been at the forefront in the fight to preserve our clean air and water in New York State. We have done our part to protect the environment from pollution by the fossil fuel industry. Our first Comprehensive Plan in 2011 was based on a residents survey which concluded they overwhelmingly wished to maintain their rural environment. At that time, there were multiple natural gas leases in Roseboom. We were among the first few Towns in the state to pass a Rural Land Use Law in 2012 which banned fracking – two years before NYS did. You will see in our documentation that the Town has actively joined the fight against nearby natural gas pipelines and compressor stations that would have polluted our streams and air. Our Comprehensive. Plan Update began 5 years later in 2016, based on another survey of residents. It was completed in 2018. You will see we have lived up to our sustainability goals, as evidenced through our efforts to become both a Clean Energy and Climate Smart Community. Many of the elements for these required actions were begun or completed under our own initiative, years prior to these programs directives.

    PE6 Action: Unified Solar Permit

    5 Points

    Program Summary: Unified Solar Permit March 2017 Town of Roseboom Resolution adopting the NYS Unified Solar Permit Roseboom Solar permit August 2014 NYSERDA notification CEC Solar Permit

    PE6 Action: Natural Resources Inventory

    10 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: UPDATE: On November 4, 2021, the Town of Roseboom held a public hearing and adopted the Municipal Natural Resources Inventory as a Local Law. It is the intent of the Town to maintain the NRI as a dynamic resource base, to update the information contained within as needed, and to integrate its use with all land-related decision making within the Town. It is our goal to establish a desirable pattern of development that will conserve the natural scenic beauty and resources of the Town for its future residents. The Natural Resource Inventory was approved for the full 8 points in the prior submission. Now, with the recent passage of the NRI Law, we would like to request the additional 2 points for this Action. Thank you. Allegra Schecter, CSC Coordinator ORIGINAL: This Natural Resource Inventory was an outgrowth of the Updated Town of Roseboom Comprehensive Plan, which was worked on for 2 years with the assistance of the Town Planning Board and Roseboom residents. The Otsego County Planning Board was instrumental in supplying area resource maps for the Town of Roseboom.

  • 7. Enhance community resilience to climate change.

    PE7 Action: Culverts & Dams

    14 Points

    Program Summary: UPDATE: EDWARDS ROAD CULVERT REPLACEMENT In 2017, Resolutions were passed to support the Otsego County Mohawk Valley Culvert Education, Assessment and Replacement Grant Applications. At that time, the Edwards Road inland stream crossing culvert was designated to be replaced under the guidance and financial assistance from FEMA. It had been increasingly flooding, and taking out the dirt road with the heavier rainfall amounts due to Climate Change. FEMA designated the size and type of culvert replacement that was to be used. As stated in the FEMA letter, "The approved scope of work includes upsize the existing culvert system by replacing the 2 pipes with a 40-foot arch pipe having a span of 12’-6” by 7’-11”. The Edwards Road culvert replacement project abides by the CRRA regulations for culverts on non-critical roadways, (inland streams) as shown on page 39 of the CRRA Flood Risk Management Document. (see Edwards Rd FEMA Replacement Culvert CRRA Compliant.pdf) This requires an additional two feet of freeboard above the projected checkflow, which was included in the FEMA authorization. "Approximately 150-180 linear feet of roadway would be elevated by 24-30 inches in order to accommodate the larger culvert and required freeboard". The Army Corps of Engineers also determined the shape of the culvert. "The culvert will be installed with at least 20 percent of its diameter embedded beneath the existing grade of the stream channel", which means it had to be a squashed elliptical. The work was completed in 2019. The CRRA Executive Summary states that "Nothing in this guidance shall be construed to supersede professional engineering judgment, or FEDERAL and State engineering requirements and practices.” Therefore, FEMA engineering is compliant under CRRA Flood Risk Management. The CSC also commented about the monitoring schedule mentioned in the FEMA letter. That refers to the quarterly progress reports required by FEMA during the construction process, NOT after project completion. That was done. All four of the scheduled project update reports were sent to FEMA on time, or we wouldn't have gotten the 75% reimbursement funding of $33,020 we qualified for and received upon completion. See the photo of completed culvert project included in the Edwards Rd FEMA Replacement Culvert CRRA Compliant.pdf. UPDATE: ADAIR ROAD CULVERT REPLACEMENTS In 2014, a hazard mitigation plan to enlarge culverts on frequently flooded stream crossings was updated. With the technical assistance of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and FEMA, two culverts on Adair Road, Town of Roseboom, were prioritized for enlarging. The Otsego County Highway Department Watershed Calculation (Talbot Formula) was used for proper sizing of the replacement tubes. The Talbot formula used to determine the size of the culvert replacements on Adair Rd. was made with the supervision of FEMA and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), both FEDERAL agencies. As previously mentioned, the CRRA Executive Summary states it does not supersede Federal engineering practices. This would indicate that the Talbot formula used for sizing would be considered CRRA compliant. Photos of the Adair Rd Culvert replacements are included in the Adair Rd FEMA Culvert Replacements Project.pdf Therefore, we are requesting 6 points for each of the tube enlargement projects, and 2 points for the dam inventory, a total of 14 points. Thank you. ORIGINAL: There is only one dam in the Town of Roseboom, It is small, privately owned, used as a spillway for Belvedere Lake Campgrounds. It was built in 1900, last inspected in 2018.

Climate Smart Communities