Windham Solid Waste Management District (WSWMD)
Brattleboro, Vermont
Board of Supervisors Meeting
Via Zoom and In-person
Draft Minutes of January 9, 2025
Members Present: (In-person & Zoom)
Chair: Michelle Cherrier, Dummerston; Dan Towler, Brookline; Kevin Stine, Dover (alternate), Stephan Chait, Halifax (alternate); Kate Ullman, Jamaica; Ellen Dudley, Marlboro; Irvin Stowell, Townshend; Sandra Rulewich, Vernon; Jim Pinkerton, Vernon (alternate); Liz Spector, Wardsboro; Lou Bordeaux, Westminster; Merrill Mundell, Wilmington
Members Absent: Patrick Moreland, Brattleboro; Hannah Tustin, Guilford; ; Daniel Ballioti, Dover; Lewis Sumner, Halifax; Doris Knechtel, Newfane; Dan Toomey, Putney; Bob Matte, Readsboro; Jim Damato, Readsboro (alternate); Rickey Harrington, Somerset; Kent Young, Stratton
WSWMD Staff Present: Robert Spencer, Executive Director; Vicki Hayes, Finance Manager & HR Administrator, Peter Gaskill, Programs Coordinator; Anita Grant, Office Manager & Operations Liaison/District Clerk
Other Guests: None
As a quorum was present, Michelle called the meeting to order at 6:02 PM
- Roll Call of Supervisors: Anita performed a roll call of supervisors present. (11 towns, 12 supervisors)
- Changes or Additions to the Agenda: None
- Approval of Minutes- December 2024:
Stephan Chait pointed out a grammatical error in the ED report. Anita and Michelle agree that the minutes should identify everyone who attends the meetings whether they are the main or alternate supervisors. Anita neglected to include Kevin Stine as attending the December meeting. Anita will amend the minutes to reflect these changes.
Irv made the motion to accept the amended minutes from December 2024, seconded by Kate, and the motion was carried unanimously.
- Approval of Check Registers- December 2024:
- Michelle asked about check # 30752 to Power Plan for a coupler on the new backhoe. Anita explained that the coupler was an aftermarket part and only had a one-year warranty, unlike the three-year warranty on the backhoe itself, so WSWMD was responsible for paying the bill.
- Michelle asked about Canva software, and Anita explained it was the productivity software that Alex uses to produce her outreach materials and media.
- Damage to backhoe tires was discussed repairs appear regularly on the check register. Bob explained that more measures were being taken to clean up nails and other metals in the compost field.
- The extra work performed by Zaluzny (CFE concrete mixing pad) was work completed out of the scope of the initial project that WSWMD paid directly upon completion.
Liz made the motion to approve the check register for December 2024, seconded by Merrill, and the motion was carried unanimously.
- Approval of Financial Statement- November 2024:
Vicki reported that December concluded with a $10,000 surplus, even though the financial statement showed a balance of $127,000. This discrepancy is due to a grant that was received to cover some of the CFE expenses, which has not yet been applied. She noted that revenues were strong, exhibiting a 7% increase over the budget. This increase can be attributed to solar RECs, access sticker sales, and day pass sales.
However, Vicki cautioned that the new half-year sticker price of $35 took effect, which may reduce the fees collected from sticker sales over the next six months. She also mentioned that cardboard volumes have decreased, and the price per ton has fallen to $93. Salaries and benefits are currently 3% below budget, while overall expenses are about half a percent above budget, excluding the unbudgeted compost tailings removal for construction.
Additionally, Vicki indicated that once the grant money is allocated to the construction in progress account, the financial statements will accurately reflect the true surplus or deficit by March.
Merrill made the motion to approve the Financial Statement for December 2024, seconded by Lou, and the motion was carried unanimously.
- Compost Facility Expansion (CFE) Construction Update:
Bob provided a brief history of the project, which began in September 2024, through to the recent delays involving the installation of electricity and internet necessary for the computer-controlled aeration system. He explained that the construction and site work are complete, and he is optimistic that the facility will be fully operational by mid-February to March. Bob reminded the board that the project is funded by District funds, USDA grants, and Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) grants, meaning that the District did not incur any long-term debt for this project. He also mentioned that he would be seeking additional grants to fund phase two of the project, which is expected to cost over $500,000.
Merrill inquired about a backup plan in case of a power outage, to which Bob responded that the facility could continue to operate many days without power, so there is no need for a generator. Stephan asked about seagulls landing on the top of the fabric building and whether they have caused any issues. Bob said that there is a 20-year warranty on the fabric. He also said that it is likely the number of gulls present will decrease once fresh compost material is loaded inside the building. Bob has reached out to ask ClearSpan about any impact on the fabric by the birds.
- Programs Coordinator’s Report:
- Peter reported that he has been researching ways to recycle mattresses rather than paying a $40 per mattress charge to Casella starting in July. He explained that there is a procedure that takes one person ten to twenty minutes to deconstruct a mattress to recycle 90% of the materials. This could save the District about $40,000 per year (1,000 units x $40 (Casella fee in July). Another option is to collect them in trailers and transport them to a mattress recycling facility.
- He has also decided to test a tool to manually remove the valves from one-pound propane tanks. If successful it could save the District about $3,000 a year by handling the tanks in-house rather than paying Cota & Cota to take the tanks away for processing. The District would also benefit from the scrap metal revenue of recovered tanks.
- Executive Director’s Report:
- Bob said that he works with the yard staff daily to assist Skip Bonnett in delegating work and overseeing the different projects to increase efficiency in the yard.
- Bob decided after further review of a nationally competitive EPA grant that it was very unlikely that phase two would get funded. He indicated that he will apply for grants to support phase 2 of the CFE when he identifies such opportunities.
- Martin’s Farm in Greenfield (a large composting site in Massachusetts) is closing this month after over thirty years in business, and as a result, Keene State College is hauling their food scraps to WSWMD, adding about $10,000 of tip fee revenue a year. There may be other food scrap generators that will utilize the WSWMD compost facility and he and Peter are involved with the transition.
- Bob reported that he has worked closely with Alex Lacy, Outreach Coordinator and that they had done some school workshops in Brattleboro. With grant funds from the USDA, they are also working with realtors to educate short-term rental clients and second homeowners about proper procedures for composting and recycling.
- Bob and Alex will also be working on a compost marketing plan and intend to acquire more distributors, garden centers, etc., before the start of the spring compost season.
- Next Meeting: Thursday, March 13, 2025, @ 6 PM (No meeting in February per the WSWMD Charter)
- Adjournment: Irv motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Lou, and the meeting adjourned at 6:43 PM.
Minutes prepared by,
Anita Grant
Office Manager & Operations Liaison/District Clerk