Windham Solid Waste Management District (WSWMD)
Brattleboro, Vermont
Board of Supervisors Meeting
Via Zoom and In-person
Minutes of January 13, 2022
Members Present: In-person/Zoom Michelle Cherrier, Chair, Dummerston; Patrick Moreland, Vice Chair, Brattleboro; Dan Toomey, Putney; Lewis Sumner, Halifax Stephan Chait, Halifax Alternate; Russell Hodgkins, Westminster; Merrill Mundell, Wilmington; Irv Stowell, Townshend; Dan Towler, Brookline; Greg Meulemans, Jamaica; Kevin Stine, Dover; Sandra Rulewich, Vernon.
Members Absent: Rickey Harrington, Somerset; Kent Young, Stratton; Michael Becker, Guilford; Doris Knechtel, Newfane; Jim Damato, Readsboro; Nancy Meinhard, Wardsboro; Stillman Vonderhorst, Marlboro.
WSWMD Staff Present: Robert Spencer, Executive Director; John Fay, Programs and Operations Manager; Vicki Hayes, Office Manager/District Clerk.
Michelle announced that the meeting is recorded and is a public record and available to anyone.
As a quorum was present Michelle called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
- Changes and/or Additions to the Agenda: None
- Approval of Minutes from December 9, 2021:
Motion to accept the minutes of December 9th as written; made by Patrick, seconded by Dan Toomey, Motion carried. Kevin abstained.
- Approval of Check Register- December 2021: Michelle mentioned that the check register was vetted by Finance prior to this meeting, there were no further questions.
Motion to approve the Check register for December 2021; made by Irv seconded by Lewis. Motion carried.
- Approval of Financial Statement- December 2021: Vicki reviewed the highlights for the month.
Kevin asked about revenue on compost sales, Vicki and Bob explained that spring is the big selling season, but we are not expecting a shortfall at this time.
Motion to approve the Financial Statement of December 2021; made by Patrick, seconded by Merrill. Motion carried.
- Programs & Operations Manager’s Report: John gave a brief demonstration of the interactive town map on the updated website. He explained that we get a report on number of ‘hits’ on our website. He then talked about the status of the tire bunker. It has recently been completed and we are now able to hold the tires from our towns until we have enough for pickup. John will be sending out a letter to the towns explaining the process. John also mentioned that we had great participation in our HHW Depot. We had more households served that we have had in the past few years. He also pointed out the need for one offsite collection out west which will be scheduled soon. The USDA technical assistance grant team will now expand to add Anita to assist with the outreach to our towns.
- Executive Director’s Report: Bob mentioned that the new backhoe was delivered today and is parked in front of the office so Board members can see it. Paid for out of our Capital Plan with a 40% coverage from the grant. This will allow us to reduce the workload of our existing backhoe. We are very excited to have this available to us. We are currently following a cautious protocol on Covid and are following Brattleboro’s mandate. We are currently interviewing for the additional yard person. We are advertising the position until the beginning of February. If anyone knows any potential hires please have them apply. There was also discussion regarding the proposed brewery next door. Currently drainage plans are being reviewed and WSWMD will share the engineering costs of this review with Allard Lumber Co since we both abut the brewery site. Dan Toomey mentioned he thought that some construction was started prior to all permits being in place, and Patrick confirmed that was the case. Stephen and Patrick asked if the brewery needed an ACT 250 permit, and Bob explained that they were under the threshold. Bob also mentioned that we may get their waste for composting. Kevin was concerned because we have been at capacity. Bob said if we can’t take it he will help them find another outlet. Bob said we started working with Food Connects which helps produce growers sell fresh vegetables to school and restaurants. Our compost will continue to be donated to school gardens, some of which grow vegetables. The USDA grant application to develop model specifications for towns and state agencies to purchase compost has been postponed. Bob has been working on another USDA community facilities grant application to expand the composting facility. BDCC has USDA funds that we can use to pay for a portion of the engineering design and cost estimate to be presented in the grant application. The Windham Foundation project to assist multiuse buildings in Brattleboro implement food scrap collection is expected to start in February. We had a fire alarm in the office this morning. Water was spraying into the conference room from the valves inside the closet. Apparently, a line froze in our sprinkler system. Luckily it was a minor repair and we used a shop vac to remove water from the carpet. Bob has been working with Sandra on Vernon’s PAYT initiative. Patrick, Bob, John, and Michelle met with the new Brattleboro Town Manager, Yoshi Manali, and gave him a tour of the facility. Dan Toomey asked about the proposed asphalt shingles and sheetrock recycling mandates from VT DEC, and Bob explained that it has been postponed due to lack of recycling facilities.
- Executive Session (if needed): None
- Next Meeting: Thursday, March 10th @ 7 PM.
- Other Business: None
- Adjournment: 7:50 PM.
Minutes prepared by
Vicki Hayes
Office Manager/District Clerk