WINDHAM SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (WSWMD)
BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
MINUTES OF MAY 11, 2017
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Jan Ameen, Acting Chair, Westminster; John Allen, Brattleboro; David Jones, Brookline; Michelle Cherrier, Dummerston; Cheryl Franklin, Guilford; Lewis Sumner, Halifax; Judy Flower, Jamaica; Stillman Vonderhorst, 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, Dover; Sheila Morse, Guilford; Cara Cheyette, Halifax; Tony Gordon; Andy Coyne, Jamaica; Albert Dupell, Stratton; Dale West, Townshend; Tom Consolino, Wilmington; and Scott Bushee, Winhall.
WSWMD STAFF PRESENT: Robert Spencer, Executive Director and Kristen Benoit, Program Coordinator/District Clerk.
OTHERS PRESENT: None
Ms. Ameen called the Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
1) Changes to the Agenda: None
2) Consider Appoint of District Treasurer (Tabled from Previous Meeting):
Motion made, seconded and carried to appoint Ms. Cherrier as District Treasurer.
3) Approval of Minutes – April 13, 2017 – Motion made, seconded, and carried to accept the minutes of April 13th as amended.
Ms. Cherrier volunteered to participate on Policy/Personnel Committee.
4) Approval of Check Register – April 2017. Mr. Spencer reported on various expenditures on the Check Register.
Motion made, seconded, and carried to approve the April Check Register.
5) Financial Report Review – April 2017: The Board of Supervisors reviewed and discussed the Financial Report.
Motion made, seconded, and carried to accept the Financial Report as presented.
6) Consider Increase for Access Permit Fees: The Board discussed increasing the access permit fee from $25.00/year to $35.00/year, eliminate day passes; increase the brush recycling minimum fee from $5.00 to $10.00, and increase the brush tonnage fee from $60.00/ton to $100.00/ton.
Motion made, seconded and carried to increase the access permit fee from $25.00 to $35.00 effective July 1, 2017. There were 8 nays.
Motion made, seconded and carried to increase the access permit fee from $5.00 to $10.00, increase the brush recycling minimum fee from $5.00 to $10.00 up to 100 lbs., and increase the brush tonnage fee from $60.00/ton to $100.00/ton. There were 2 nays.
7) Program Coordinator’s Report:Ms. Benoit reported on various programs she is working on including school tours, event recycling, composting workshops, compost bin supply grant, and spring hazardous waste collection.
8) Executive Director’s Report:Mr. Spencer reported on higher than normal revenue for the month of April as shown in the financial report, Vermont Legislative amendment to Act 148 which delays haulers requirement to offer collection of food scraps for 1 year beginning July 1, 2017, recent selectboard meetings attended to assist towns with trash hauling/recycling bids and contracts, Public Service Board technical hearing in Montpelier on the solar project, solar project updates, WSWMD phone security breach, and employees hired to service the Convenience Center and Compost facility upon closure of the MRF.
9) New Windham Regional Commission County Grant for Anaerobic Digestion Feasibility Study with Sky Renewable Energy: Mr. Spencer reported WSWMD and Sky Renewable Energy were awarded a $50,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study at the WSWMD for anaerobic digestion and depackaging technology at WSWMD.
10) Status of Compost Marketing Program: Mr. Spencer reported WSWMD sold 243 cubic yards of compost this year to date. Last year a total of about 900 cubic yards were sold. Compost is sold through 5 retail distributors. WSWMD will be renting a compost screen next week.
11) Consider Education/Outreach for Towns Beginning New Recycling Programs Starting July 1, 2017: Ms. Benoit informed the Board she would like to would work with each community to provide education and outreach to residents and businesses about any new recycling programs being implemented.
12) Discuss Type of Food Waste Containers to be Ordered for Each Town Transfer Station: Discussed with Agenda item #7, Program Coordinator’s Report.
13) ConsiderTown Requests for Loaning of Recycling Roll-off Containers: Ms. Benoit distributed a spreadsheet showing each Town’s request for roll-off containers. The Board reviewed and discussed the spreadsheet. Ms. Ameen suggested stenciling or welding the boxes with WSWMD.
14) Executive Session (if needed): None
15) Other Business as Legally Allowed: Extended hours at the Convenience Center and Board Chair will be included on the June Board Meeting Agenda.
16) Adjournment: Motion made, seconded and carried to adjourn the meeting:The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m.
Kristen Benoit, District Clerk