WINDHAM SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (WSWMD)
BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
DRAFT MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 8, 2018
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Michelle Cherrier, Chair, Dummerston; Patrick Moreland, Brattleboro; David Jones, Brookline; Lester Dunklee, Dummerston; Lewis Sumner, Halifax; Judy Flower, Jamaica; Dan Toomey, Putney; James Damato, Readsboro; Irvin Stowell, Townshend; Russ Hodgkins, Westminster; Nancy Meinhard, Wardsboro; and Merrill Mundell, Wilmington
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Peter Elwell, Brattleboro; Daniel Baliotti and Kevin Stein Dover; Cheryl Franklin and Sheila Morse, Guilford; Cara Cheyette, Halifax; Andy Coyne, Jamaica; Tony Gordon and Stillman Vonderhorst, Marlboro; Shannon Meckle and Mike Fitzpatrick, Newfane; Robert Matte, Readsboro; Kent Young, Stratton; Emily Vergobbe, Vernon; and Tom Consolino, Wilmington
WSWMD STAFF PRESENT: Bob Spencer, Executive Director; Vicki Hayes, Office Manager/Bookkeeper; Minnie Boadu-Bennett, District Clerk; Dale Bessette, Transfer Station/ Scalehouse Attendant; Kristen Benoit, Programs Manager
OTHERS PRESENT: None.
Ms. Cherrier called meeting to order at 7:01 PM
1. Changes and/or Additions to Agenda:
Motion made to discuss the long-term priorities and direction of the district at the January 10, 2019 Board of Supervisor’s meeting, seconded and carried.
2. Consider Appointment of WSWMD Board of Supervisors Vice Chair:
Motion made to appoint Ms. Meinhard as the Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors, seconded, and carried. Ms. Meinhard will serve through the April 2019 reorganization meeting.
3. Approval of Minutes – October 11, 2018:
Motion made, seconded, and carried to the approve minutes of October 11, 2018 as presented. There were two abstentions.
4. Approval of Check Register – October 2018: The board discussed several items on the register including: the trommel screen rental, Europa IT’s ongoing fees, and the expense for roof repairs.
Motion made, seconded, and carried approve check register of October 2018 as presented.
5. Approval of Financial Report – October 2018: Spencer reviewed the October financial reports for the board, highlighting a current $11,000 surplus relative to the budget not including an outstanding USDA grant of $17,500. Expenses are 3.75% above budget, while revenue is 6.75% above budget. We averaged 65 transactions per operating day for the month. Ms. Meinhard asked about incoming revenue from Sky Solar Holdings, and Mr. Spencer explained that the first check from Sky Solar was due soon for the first quarterly payment of the leaseThe board discussed the sale of renewable energy credits.
Motion made to approve the October 2018 financial report as presented. Motion seconded and carried.
6. Consider Approval of FY 20 Budget: There will be a note in parentheses on line 269 that it refers to the trommel screen purchase and front-end loader monthly payments. Mr. Damato clarified that the budget assumes we receive the VT DEC Organics Infrastructure Grant for purchase of a trammel screen
Motion made and seconded to approve the budget for fiscal year 2020 as presented with $931,455 in expenditures, $64,880 in capital budgeting included, $753,525 in revenues, and an assessment, to be divided among the member towns as provided in the assessment page, of $242,810.
Ms. Meinhard asked to clarify that the assessments are reduced by 21% from prior year.
Motion carried to approve the budget for presentation at public hearing on December 13th, 2018.
7. Consider Approval of Solid Waste Implementation Plan (SWIP) due to Whitingham Withdrawal from District: Benoit explained the need for the SWIP to be amended to remove references to Whitingham, which is no longer a district member town.
Motion made, seconded and carried to approve the amended SWIP for presentation at public hearing on December 13, 2018.
8. Program Coordinator’s Report: Benoit reported on the October HHW collection:283 households participated in HHW collection this year, up 68 from last year. The PaintCare program has sent out 6.8 tons of paint products since July. Ms. Benoit mentioned New England Disposal Technologies in Westfield as a new resource for hazardous waste disposal. We delivered our first load of glass recycling to Keene, saving $120 a ton. Ms. Benoit has upcoming tours at the district, a recycling class with WWHT for Great River Terrace residents and an all-school presentation. She has received much positive feedback from doctors on the syringe takeback program. New posters for transfer station signs are in the works, promoting Vermont State symbols and colors. recycling in line with state colors and symbols. Ms. Benoit reported that she and Mr. Spencer have completed transfer station visits to update services lists and address issues. There was general discussion about compost participation. We are entering year five of the SWIP, which is the final year. One requirement is that there will need to be separate recycling for both asphalt shingles and drywall by July 1, 2020. The Solid Waste Annual Report by VT ANR is open for public comment until November 15, 2018.
9. Executive Director’s Report: Spencer reported on 2 more burglaries since the last board meeting. He informed the board of the submission of the VT DEC Organics Infrastructure grant application on October 31st. CPI tip increase for food scraps will take effect July 2019, in accordance with the contract with Brattleboro. There may be a need for a new paper fiber source. Mr. Spencer attended selectboard meetings in Marlboro and Brookline. The mayors of Montpelier and Barre, and the director of the Central VT Solid Waste District visited the district and met with Mr. Spencer, Ms. Benoit, Mr. Moreland and Mr. Gaskill of Triple T to learn about our curbside foodscraps program. Mr. Spencer helped organize the annual SWANA workshop at SIT, Ms. Morrisette helped to coordinate. Mr. Spencer led a presentation on curbside collection and there was a tour of the district facilities and solar array. Mr. Spencer has begun researching options for large-scale compost marketing. Lastly, he met with Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, Brattleboro town management, and Mr. Casella of Dynamic Organics about business analysis and planning for the organics program.
10. Committee Reports: Toomey reported that the updated Policy/Personnel Handbook will be ready to be considered at December 13, 2018.
11. Executive Session (if needed):
13. Other Business as Legally Allowed: Damato suggested HHW pickups continue to be scheduled in the outlying towns, Ms. Flowers added that having these collections in outlying towns demonstrates for the town the benefits of district membership. Mr. Toomey read some words of gratitude for Jan Ameen’s many years of service, following her resignation from WSWMD Board of Supervisors.
Motion to approve Mr. Toomey’s statement to Ms. Ameen, and to include the full-text in the minutes, made, seconded and carried. Statement as follows:
“I would like the record to show the Board’s gratitude for Jan Ameen’s service to the Windham Solid Waste Management District over the course of many years. Her expertise in the field, the seriousness that she assumed when she took on the role of board member, her participation on every committee (and the chairing of more than one of those), her hours upon hours of time dedicated to reviewing documents, her hard questioning, and above all her thoughtfulness and her integrity are irreplaceable. She will be missed.”
Adjournment: Adjourned at 8:37.
Minnie Boadu-Bennett, District Clerk