Board of Supervisors Minutes- 10/9/25

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Windham Solid Waste Management District (WSWMD)

Brattleboro, Vermont

Board of Supervisors Meeting

Via Zoom and In-person

Draft Minutes of October 9, 2025

 

Members Present: (In-person)

Chair: Michelle Cherrier, Dummerston; Vice Chair(interim): Dan Toomey, Putney; Stanley Noga, Jr, Brookline; Dave Eastman, Guilford; Stephan Chait, Halifax (alternate); Kate Ullman, Jamaica, Doris Knetchel, Newfane; James Damato, Readsboro; Jim Pinkerton, Vernon; Liz Spector, Wardsboro; Merrill Mundell, Wilmington

 

Members Absent: Amanda Ellis-Thurber, Brattleboro; Stephen Dotson, Brattleboro (alternate); Doug Wellman, Brookline (alternate); Dan Baliotti, Dover; Kevin Stine, Dover (alternate); Lewis Sumner, Halifax; Jessica Pollack, Jamaica (alternate); Ellen Dudley, Marlboro; Carla Meskill, Marlboro (alternate); Irvin Stowell, Townshend; Rickey Harrington, Somerset; Kent Young, Stratton; Lou Bordeaux, Westminster

 

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; Brett Comeau, CDL Driver

Other Guests: None

  1. Roll Call of Supervisors: Anita performed a roll call of supervisors present. (11 towns, 11 supervisors) 
  1. Changes or Additions to the Agenda: Anita pointed out that the Solid Waste Implementation Plan Adoption was neglected on the agenda and would move to #8 on the agenda.
  1. Approval of Minutes- September 2025: Anita neglected to list Dave Eastman as absent- minutes will be amended.

Merrill made the motion to approve the amended Board of Supervisors minutes from September 2025, Doris seconded, and the motion carried with two (2) abstentions.

  1. Approval of Check Register- September 2025:

Liz made the motion to approve the Check Register of September 2025, Jim D. seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Approval of Financial Statement- September 2025:

Vicki reported that the District finished September with a cumulative surplus of $81,000. Access stickers, HHW, and tip fees contributed to the revenues, finishing at 3.7% above the forecasted budget. Revenues finished at $6,200, sales of cardboard were $5,700, and compost sales remained slow due to the season.

She also reported that salaries & benefits were 1.7% under budget and that there was about $1,400 in USDA grant expenses that would be reimbursed. Overall, expenses are still below budget for the first quarter of FY 26, even with the unexpected expense of repairing the scale porch and paying for three months of brush disposal. She also reported a $1,971 fixed asset entry for the welding repairs on box # 107.

Dave made the motion to approve the Financial Statement of September 2025, Jim D. seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Approve New Check Signer- (Jim Pinkerton) & Remove Signers (Sandra Rulewich & Patrick Moreland) from M&T Bank Account Ending in 7963:

Merrill made the motion to add Jim Pinkerton as an additional check signer while removing both Sandra and Patrick, Dave seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Approve Purchase of New Pickup Truck: Bob and Peter prepared requests for bids that were sent to five Ford and Chevy dealerships on the State Purchasing list for a new pickup truck to accommodate the Compost Collection Program (CCP), local errands, outreach & meetings. A 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD was agreed upon for its towing capacity, and the local dealership (Brattleboro Auto Mall) offered the municipal discount. The truck will be ready for pickup on 10/10/25.

Jim D. made the motion to approve the purchase of a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD to Brattleboro Auto Mall for $49,794. Stan seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. 2026-2030 Solid Waste Implementation Plan (SWIP) Adoption:

Since there were no public comments at either of the two public hearings (August 25 & October 8) or changes to the original submission of the SWIP, Jim D. made the motion to approve the 2026 SWIP as originally submitted, Merrill seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Outreach Coordinator’s Report: Alex Lacy was not present at the meeting

 

  1. Program Coordinator’s Report:
  • As safety coordinator, Peter assisted Bob in preparing written procedures for entering the sump tank, a confined space, at the compost facility to address plugged pipes and performance issues. The Brattleboro Fire Department visited the site and reviewed the procedures.
  • WSWMD hosted a Special Recycling Program refresher taught by the VT DEC for the local transfer station operators on Monday, October 6th. WSWMD employees were present, as well as some local but out-of-district operators and employees.
  • The Compost Collection Program (CCP) has been running for seven weeks and collects about 1,300lbs per week, which would total about 34 tons a year. Wardsboro was added two weeks ago, and Wilmington is next. Once Wilmington is added, there will be 5 of 7 transfer stations within the District participating. There was much discussion around types of bins and equipment, and Peter reiterated that the program was in its infancy and that future efficiencies would be implemented and equipment would get sorted out. He has not sought other sources until the truck is replaced, and a reliable and efficient collection method is agreed upon.

 

  1. Executive Director’s Report:
  • Bob reported that he met with Brattleboro officials regarding the draft Casella contract for curbside collection of trash, recycling, and compost. As the contract is confidential and discussed by the Selectboard in executive session, Bob was unable to discuss the contract but did point out that he was present to ensure the scraps were delivered to WSWMD.
  • HVAC upgrade: he let the board know that the vendor was currently on-site to finish the upgrade in the office building, and the work would be completed at the end of the week. He reminded the board that this was a result of the state-funded energy audit performed in 2024, and the project would cost a little over $40,000.
  • Greenbacker has hired contractors to address the vegetation and overgrowth on the solar array. Currently, Bob has coordinated the herbicide treatments for the overgrowth of vegetation on the perimeter fence, and some discussion took place regarding solar RECs (renewable energy credits) & Greenbacker’s lease.
  • He is still working on the amendment to the Compost Facility permit to continue to accept the culled chickens from Hubbard.
  • He reported that the Sterling roll-off truck is currently at A’s Auto & Truck Repair in Guilford for approximately $21,000 in repairs, as it failed inspection. The truck has been in the shop for almost two weeks, and Casella has been hired to do the hauling.
  • Bob indicated that the yard staff will be scraping and painting the entrance gate as well as other Hi-Vis areas around the yard.
  • Bob was asked about additional feedstocks for the compost facility; he reported that he had been receiving loads from Lightlife Foods, as well as some festivals in Massachusetts in cooperation with the Franklin County Waste District, as there had been some uncertainty about whether Martin’s Farm was still accepting compost. 
  1. Executive Session (if needed): N/A 
  1. Other Business:
  • Merrill reminded the group that the second FY 27 budget meeting would be held on Tuesday, October 14th at 5 PM and encouraged others to join. 
  1. Next Meeting: Thursday, November 13, 2025 @ 6 PM
  1. Adjournment: Jim Damato motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Dave, and the meeting adjourned at 7:17 PM. 

 

Minutes prepared by,

 

 Anita Grant, Office Manager & Operations Liaison/District Clerk