WINDHAM SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (WSWMD)
BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
MINUTES OF DECEMBER 14, 2017
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Michelle Cherrier, Chair, Dummerston; Jan Ameen, Vice Chair, Westminster; David Jones, Brookline; Lester Dunklee, Dummerston; Cheryl Franklin, Guilford; Lewis Sumner, Halifax; Judy Flower; Jamaica; James Damato, Readsboro; Irvin Stowell, Townshend; Tim Franklin, Vernon; Nancy Meinhard, Wardsboro; Gig Zboray, Whitingham and Readsboro Alternate; and Merrill Mundell, Wilmington.
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: John Allen and Brandie Starr, Brattleboro; Thomas Baltrus and Kevin Stein, Dover; Sheila Morse, Guilford; Cara Cheyette, Halifax; Andy Coyne, Jamaica; Tony Gordon and Stillman Vonderhorst, Marlboro; Shannon Meckle, Newfane; Albert Dupell, Stratton; Dale West, Townshend; Emily Vergobbe, Vernon; and Tom Consolino, Wilmington.
WSWMD STAFF PRESENT: Robert Spencer, Executive Director, Kristen Benoit, Program Coordinator/District Clerk; and Vicki Hayes, Office Manager/Bookkeeper.
OTHERS PRESENT: None
Ms. Cherrier called the Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
- Consider Draft FY 2019 Budgets & Assessments after Agenda item #6, Executive Director’s Report.
2) Approval of Minutes – November 9, 2017 – Motion made, seconded, and carried to accept the Minutes of November 9th.
3) Approval of Check Register – November 2017: Mr. Spencer reported on various expenditures on the Check Register.
Motion made, seconded, and carried to approve the November Check Register.
4) Financial Report Review – November 2017: The Board of Supervisors reviewed and discussed the Financial Report.
Motion made, seconded, and carried to accept the November Financial Report.
5) Program Coordinator’s Report:Ms. Benoit reported on food scrap collection mandates, deposit can and bottle collection program with Putney Road Redemption, Re-TRAC reporting, free Christmas tree recycling program, new WSWMD District Map prepared by the Windham Regional Commission, business outreach, and FY 18/19 SWIP Grant.
6) Executive Director’s Report:Mr. Spencer reported on WSWMD composting operations, including a video on the recent demonstration of a compost mixer at the District on December 8th; new electrical rates from Green Mountain Power; Town of Guilford meeting to discuss WSWMD; vendor contracts for organic materials; and roll-off container MOUs with member towns. The Board discussed the sale of the International roll-off truck.
Motion made and seconded the Board of Supervisors vote to sell the International roll-off truck. Motion withdrawn.
10) Consider Draft FY 2019 Budgets & Assessments: The Board of Supervisors reviewed and discussed the proposed draft FY 2018/2019 Budget.
Motion made, seconded, and carried the District recommend a budget with a revenue of $710,741, expense of $916,174, and a deficit to be funded through assessments of $307,433. There was 1 abstention.
Ms. Ameen informed the Board that she and Mr. Damato met with Patrick Moreland, Brattleboro’s Assistant Town Manager, to discuss a reduction in the percentage of the total amount for the payment in lieu of taxes (P.I.L.O.T). The District currently pays 8% of Brattleboro’s annual assessment. Mr. Moreland has agreed to submit a request to the Brattleboro Selectboard to reduce the P.I.L.O.T. to 5.5%. The proposed reduction is not reflected in the proposed draft budget.
7) Consider Increase in Truck Weighing Fee: WSWMD currently charges $7.00 for a commercial truck weight scale ticket. The Board discussed the $7.00 fee.
Motion made, seconded, and carried to raise the truck-weighing fee to $9.00 effective July 1, 2018.
8) Consider Non-member Use of District Transfer Station/Recycling Facility & HHW Events: The Board discussed the use of the WSWMD transfer station and hazardous waste collection events by residents of non-member towns.
Motion made, seconded, and carried the District set a policy that businesses and residents of non-member towns not be allowed to use the District’s transfer station, recycling facility, and HHW events.
9) Comparison of Other District’s Per Capita Costs: Mr. Spencer reviewed the Final Comparison of District & Alliance Fees and Surcharges – Aug 2017 included in the Board package. Mr. Spencer noted WSWMD is the only District without a trash surcharge and is the second least expensive District in terms of cost/ton.
11) Solar Project Update: Mr. Spencer reported on updates with the solar project. Mr. Spencer informed the Board Sky Solar Holding has chosen a contractor and they should be on site next week.
12) Brattleboro P.I.L.O.T. Update: This Agenda item was discussed with Agenda item #10.
13) Executive Session (if needed): None
14) Other Business as Legally Allowed: The Board discussed the sale of the International roll-off truck. It was previously reported that there may be issues obtaining parts for the District’s Sterling roll-off truck. Mr. Spencer reported discussions with A’s Auto revealed there would be no issues obtaining parts for the Sterling truck.
Motion made, seconded, and carried the District solicit bids and sell the International roll-off truck.
15) Adjournment: Motion made, seconded and carried to adjourn the meeting:The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Kristen Benoit
Program Coordinator/District Clerk