Windham Solid Waste Management District (WSWMD)
Brattleboro, Vermont
Board of Supervisors Meeting
Via Zoom and In-person
Minutes of May 11, 2023
Members Present: (In-person & Zoom)
Chair: Michelle Cherrier, Dummerston; : Vice Chair: Patrick Moreland, Brattleboro.
Dan Towler, Brookline; Kevin Stine, Dover (alternate); Stephan Chait, Halifax (alternate), Doris Knechtel, Newfane; Dan Toomey, Putney; Bob Matte, Readsboro; Sandra Rulewich, Vernon; Kevin Hughes, Westminster; Merrill Mundell, Wilmington
Members Absent Michael Becker, Guilford; Jessica Pollack, Jamaica; Stillman Vonderhorst, Marlboro; Rickey Harrington, Somerset; Kent Young, Stratton; Irvin Stowell, Townshend; Wardsboro: Vacant
WSWMD Staff Present: Robert Spencer, Executive Director; John Fay, Programs Manager; Vicki Hayes, Finance & Office Manager.
As a quorum was present Michelle called the meeting to order at 7:04 PM
- Roll Call of Members: John performed a roll call of members present.
- Changes and/or Additions to the Agenda: None
- Approval of Minutes from April 13, 2023:
Motion to accept the minutes from April 13, 2023, as written; made by Dan Toomey, seconded by Patrick. Motion carried.
- Approval of April 2023 Check Register: Michelle mentioned that the Finance Committee reviewed the check register. There were no additional questions by the Board.
Motion to approve the Check Register for April 2023; made by Doris, seconded by Patrick. Motion carried.
- Approval of Financial Statements for April 2023: Vicki noted that the results for April still show a deficit, but significantly smaller than last month. Barring unforeseen circumstances, we will finish out the fiscal year with a small surplus.
Motion to approve the Financial Statements for April 2023; made by Merrill, seconded by Dan Toomey. Motion carried.
- Update on surface rights issue at the new compost facility site: Michelle updated the Board that the Executive Board met with our District lawyers under executive session this afternoon to discuss the matter of potential surface rights by third parties on a portion of district real estate.
- Compost Facility Expansion: Bob presented a slideshow/talk he gave at the recent Vermont Organic Recycling Summit (VORS) on the latest plans for the capital project. It was well-received by the Board.
- Programs Manager Report: John conveyed that the opening of the HHW Depot in May has gone smoothly and has met strong demand. John then showed the board a Lithium-Ion Battery safety kit that the district recently received from the State of Vermont along with training on how to use it.
- Executive Director’s Report:
- Bob informed the board that one of the two electric transformers from the solar field is down for safety repairs; this will have a significant negative impact on next year’s budget because a portion of the Renewable Energy Credits the district has budgeted for revenues will not be generated.
- Bob reported that the State of Vermont Department of Corrections worker program is being discontinued. They have provided inexpensive labor to the district for decades, so this will mean the yard staff will have to pick up the work that the work crew has been doing.
- Long Falls Paperboard is interested in using our compost facility to compost some short paper fiber sludge at our composting facility. Bob is looking into the possibility.
- Compost sales have picked up in the last month with $13,000 in sales.
- Executive Session (if needed): None
- Next Meeting: Thursday, June 8 @ 7:00 PM
- Other Business: None
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 PM
Minutes prepared by,
John Fay
Programs Manager