Finance Committee Meeting-Approved Minutes 4/8/2021

Windham Solid Waste Management District (WSWMD)

Brattleboro, Vermont

Finance Committee Meeting

Via ZOOM

Minutes of April 8, 2021

 

Committee Members Present: Merrill Mundell, Wilmington (Committee Chair); Michelle Cherrier, Dummerston; Russell Hodgkins, Westminster; Patrick Moreland, Brattleboro

 

Committee Members Absent: James Damato, Readsboro.

 

WSWMD Staff Present: Robert Spencer, Executive Director; Vicki Hayes, Office Manager/Bookkeeper/District Clerk, John Fay Programs Manager.

Others Present: Doris Knechtel, Newfane.

 

Mr. Mundell called the meeting to order at 6:15 P.M.

 

  1. Changes and/or Additions to the Agenda:

 

  1. Approval of Minutes – March 11, 2021.

 

Russ moved to approve the minutes of March 11th as written, Michelle seconded. The motion was carried.

 

  1. Review of Check Register – March 2021: Vicki made note of March being a 3 pay period month. Also discussed was HHW Depot expenses to be covered by grant funds.

 

Michelle moved to recommend the approval of the check registers to the Board of Supervisors, Patrick seconded. The motion was carried.

 

  1. Review of Financial Statement- March 2021: Vicki and Bob discussed the highlights of the monthly results. It was noted that we are expected to end the year with a surplus.

Russ moved to recommend the approval of the Financial Statements to the Board of Supervisors, Patrick seconded. The motion was carried.

 

  1. Update on Glass Recycling: John and Bob discussed The Northeast Resource Recycling Association’s (NRRA) Keene facility rejecting our glass due to excessive contamination. Bob talked about the unrealistic contamination requirement of the fiberglass manufacturer in Quebec where the glass was taken. Therefore, we are currently including glass with single stream materials. John shared his cost analysis which shows our costs of disposal will increase $5,000-7,000 over a year by putting glass in with the single stream. The following options are being reviewed:
  • A sorting table for glass with staff manually separating contaminants.
  • A glass crusher machine which would make a crushed glass product as we used to do when the MRF was operating.
  • Stockpiling in an outdoor bunker to accumulate tractor trailer loads to haul to New London, NH.

Also discussed was the potential expansion of the state bottle bill to include more glass containers. Bob and John will continue to explore options and report to the board.

 

  1. Update on Fee Analysis: Vicki reviewed the process she and Anita used to do the analysis.  Trucking and overhead was spread out to the various categories based on tonnage. Disposal costs and tip fees were determined for each of the various materials. The committee reviewed the results and as the District appears to be covering its overall expenses with the July 2020 price increases, it was decided to recommend to the Board of Supervisors to maintain the fees as and review again at the end of the current fiscal year and again next spring.

Patrick moved to recommend that the Board approve the fees as stated, Russ seconded.  The motion was carried.

 

  1. Executive Session: None

 

  1. Next Meeting: May 13, 2021 @ 6:00 P.M. Possible in person option.

 

  1. Adjournment: 7:00 P.M.

 

 

Minutes submitted by,

 

Vicki Hayes

District Clerk