Board of Supervisors Meeting Minutes- 11/13/25 @ 6 PM

| Board of Supervisor's Meeting Notices, Agendas & Minutes

Windham Solid Waste Management District (WSWMD)

Brattleboro, Vermont

Board of Supervisors Meeting

Via Zoom and In-person

 Minutes of November 13, 2025

 

Members Present: (In-person)

Chair: Michelle Cherrier, Dummerston; Vice Chair(interim): Dan Toomey, Putney; Amanda Ellis-Thurber, Brattleboro; Stanley Noga, Jr, Brookline; Dave Eastman, Guilford; Stephan Chait, Halifax (alternate); Irvin Stowell, Townshend; Jim Pinkerton, Vernon; Liz Spector, Wardsboro; Merrill Mundell, Wilmington; Lou Bordeaux, Westminster

Members Absent: Stephen Dotson, Brattleboro (alternate); Doug Wellman, Brookline (alternate); Dan Baliotti, Dover; Kevin Stine, Dover (alternate); Lewis Sumner, Halifax; Kate Ullman, Jamaica; Jessica Pollack, Jamaica (alternate); Doris Knetchel, Newfane; James Damato, Readsboro; Ellen Dudley, Marlboro; Carla Meskill, Marlboro (alternate); Rickey Harrington, Somerset; Kent Young, Stratton

WSWMD Staff Present: Robert Spencer, Executive Director; Vicki Hayes, Finance Manager & HR Administrator; Peter Gaskill, Programs Coordinator; Alex Lacy, Outreach Coordinator; Anita Grant, Office Manager & Operations Liaison/District Clerk

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: None

 

  1. Approval of Minutes- October 2025:

Dave made the motion to approve the Board of Supervisors minutes from October 2025, Dan Toomey seconded, and the motion carried with two (2) abstentions.

 

  1. Approval of Check Register- October 2025:

Merrill made the motion to approve the Check Register of October 2025, Dave seconded, and the motion passed with one abstention.

 

  1. Approval of Financial Statement- October 2025:

Vicki reported that October finished with a surplus of $74,000, with revenues exceeding the budget by 5%. She also reported that the expenses were only 1% over budget. She also let the board know that there were two pesticide grants and the remaining USDA grant money that are still due to the District.

Lou made the motion to approve the Financial Statement of October 2025, Merrill seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Appoint Finance Committee Members:

Michelle made a motion to appoint Dave Eastman (Guilford) and Jim Pinkerton (Vernon) as Finance Committee Members. Merrill seconded, and the motion passed with two abstentions.

 

  1. Approval of the FY 27 Budget, Capital Plan & Member Town Assessments:

Merrill made the motion to accept the proposed FY 27 Budget, Capital Plan & Member Town Assessments, with Revenues totaling $1,505,309.00, Expenses totaling $1,709,517.00, and Assessments totaling $294,208.00, pending the outcome of the public hearing for Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 5:30 PM. Jim P. seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Update on Progress for Purchase of a Dump Trailer & Cart Tipper for the Compost Collection Program:

Merrill made a motion to allow the District to spend up to $30,000 from the FY 26 Capital Plan for the purchase of a new Dump Trailer and Cart Tipper with modifications for the CCP. Liz seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

  1. Program Coordinator’s Report:
  • The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program concluded on 10/21/25, and Peter reported serving 374 households and businesses. He also completed his required Hazwoper refresher course in October. Arkwood Environmental, formerly known as Heritage Environmental, was onsite on 11/10 for the final clean out.
  • He has been working with a local metal fabricator who has been repairing damaged roll-off containers. This ensures the District has enough containers to conduct business without having to buy new ones.
  • Peter explained that the District would be separating mixed paper from the single-stream box and processing it on-site.
  1. Outreach Coordinator’s Report:
  • Alex discussed work with the Brattleboro sustainability coordinator and communications coordinator to assist with their curbside program.
  • Alex worked with Guilford Central School as a SCRAPI mentor and has helped them to complete a school waste audit.
  • The USDA RD grant video is being edited and can be used in the future for anyone using the existing compost drop-off system, as well as best practices for setting up a drop-off of their own.
  • WSWMD gained Bellows Falls Union High School in their SWIP and will begin outreach next week.
  1. Executive Director’s Report:
  • A Notice of Alleged Violation (NOAV) was issued by the Vermont Department of Energy and Conservation (DEC) for exceeding the permitted capacity for chicken mortalities. As of November 1, 2025, WSWMD has suspended acceptance of chicken mortalities and has applied for a variance.
  • Bob has been working with the town of Brattleboro to contract the town’s curbside food waste. He also indicated that he would be working with Alex on outreach and education for Brattleboro residents.
  • Bob completed the FY 25 Annual report, and it was distributed to the towns.
  • WSWMD will be closed Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (11/27-11/29) for the Thanksgiving holiday. For Christmas, the facility will be closing at noon on Christmas Eve and closed Christmas Day but will be open on Friday & Saturday.
  • Bob will be increasing his hours from 32 to 40 in December to oversee yard operations.
  1. Executive Session (if needed): N/A 
  1. Other Business: N/A 
  1. Next Meeting: Thursday, December 11, 2025, @ 6 PM, directly following the public hearing at 5:30 PM
  1. Adjournment: Irv made the motion to adjourn at 7:27 PM.

 Minutes prepared by,

 

 Anita Grant, Office Manager & Operations Liaison/District Clerk