WINDHAM SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (WSWMD)
BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
MINUTES OF AUGUST 10, 2017
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Jan Ameen, Acting Chair, Westminster; John Allen, Brattleboro; David Jones, Brookline; Lester Dunklee, Dummerston; Cheryl Franklin, Guilford; Lewis Sumner and Cara Cheyette, Halifax; Judy Flower, Jamaica; Tony Gordon, Marlboro; Shannon Meckle, Newfane; Dan Toomey, Putney; James Damato, Readsboro; Gig Zboray, Readsboro and Whitingham; Irvin Stowell, Townshend; Tim Franklin, Vernon; Nancy Meinhard, Wardsboro; Clyde Twitchell, Whitingham; and Merrill Mundell, Wilmington.
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Brandie Starr, Brattleboro; Thomas Baltrus and Kevin Stein, Dover; Michelle Cherrier, Dummerston; Sheila Morse, Guilford; Andy Coyne, Jamaica; Stillman Vonderhorst, Marlboro; Albert Dupell, Stratton; Dale West, Townshend; and Tom Consolino, Wilmington.
WSWMD STAFF PRESENT: Robert Spencer, Executive Director, Kristen Benoit, Program Coordinator/District Clerk; Phil Baker, Scalehouse Attendant; and Dale Bessette, Scalehouse Attendant/Truck Driver.
OTHERS PRESENT: None
Ms. Ameen called the Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
1) Changes to the Agenda: The Board agreed to the following Agenda change:
- add Town of Whitingham Update.
2) Consider Election of Board Chair: The Board discussed a “rotating Chair.” Ms. Meinhard and Mr. Toomey volunteered to serve as chair on a rotating basis. Attorney Callahan will be consulted to verify a “rotating Chair” is permitted per WSWMD Charter.
3) Approval of Minutes – June 8, 2017 – Motion made, seconded, and carried to accept the minutes of June 8th as amended. There was 1 abstention.
4) Approval of Check Register – June 2017 and July 2017: Mr. Spencer reported on various expenditures on the Check Registers.
Motion made, seconded, and carried to approve the June and July Check Registers.
5) Financial Report Review – June 2017 and July 2017: The Board of Supervisors reviewed and discussed the Financial Reports.
Motion made, seconded, and carried to accept the June 30th Financial Report.
Motion made, seconded, and carried to accept the July 31st Financial Report.
6) Program Coordinator’s Report:Ms. Benoit reported on various programs including backyard composting and transfer station composting workshops, Year 2 – Solid Waste Implementation Plan (SWIP) Report, new requirements for Year 3 – SWIP, ReTrac reporting, outreach including new radio ads, and school and business outreach.
7) Executive Director’s Report:Mr. Spencer reported on recent cosmetic updates to WSWMD administration offices, new WSWMD exterior sign, installation of security cameras, Department of Corrections Contract, and WSWMD compost marketing including a new retail distributor.
8) Town of Whitingham Meeting Update and Withdrawal: Ms. Ameen reported on the Special Executive Board Meeting with the Town of Whitingham Selectboard. Mr. Spencer informed the Board the Town of Whitingham voted to withdraw from the District effective June 30th 2018. The Board reviewed and discussed withdrawal requirements including indebtness, per WSWMD Charter.
9) Solar Project Update: Mr. Spencer reported on updates with the solar project including a recent delay in construction due to needed equipment by Green Mountain Power.
10) Compost Marketing: Compost marketing was previously discussed under agenda item #7, Executive Director’s Report.
11) Transfer Station Operating Hours: Mr. Spencer reported on new extended hours at the WSWMD Transfer Station.
12) MRF Closure Status: Mr. Spencer informed the Board the District is no longer collecting or processing commingle or paper in the MRF, but it will continue to bale and sell cardboard due to its potential to generate revenue. Cardboard is still being baled and marketed.
13) Consider Sale of MRF Equipment: Mr. Spencer informed the Board Trevor Mance, of TAM Waste Management, submitted a request to purchase the glass crusher and 2 conveyor belts. Mr. Spencer did receive an estimate from the manufacturer on the market value of the glass crusher. Mr. Mance also suggested a possible trade of a front-end-loader for the glass recycling equipment. The Board was not supportive of the purchase or trade and requested a completed list of assets and their estimated value be prepared for the September Board Meeting.
14) Consider Purchase of New Equipment: None.
15) Windham County Clean Energy Grant: Mr. Spencer reported on recent develops in the Windham County Clean Energy Grant which includes a feasibility study of anaerobic digestion and food waste depackaging technology.
16) Recycling Roll-off Containers Loans to Towns Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Mr. Spencer reviewed the MOU with the Board and stated photographs of each box will accompany the MOU.
17) Executive Session (if needed): None
18) Other Business as Legally Allowed: None
19) Adjournment: Motion made, seconded and carried to adjourn the meeting: The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 p.m.
Kristen Benoit
District Clerk