WINDHAM SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (WSWMD)
BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
MINUTES OF DECEMBER 12, 2012
SUPERVISORS PRESENT: Michelle Cherrier, Chair, Dummerston; Patrick Moreland, Brattleboro; David Jones, Brookline; Michael Becker, Guilford; Lewis Sumner, Halifax; Greg Meulemans, Jamaica; Dan Toomey, Putney; Doris Knechtel, Newfane; James Damato, Readsboro; and Merrill Mundell, Wilmington.
SUPERVISORS ABSENT: Peter Elwell, Brattleboro; Daniel Balliotti, Dover; Kevin Stine, Dover; Cheryl Franklin, Guilford; Cara Cheyette, Halifax; Stillman Vonderhorst, Marlboro; Mike Fitzpatrick, Newfane; Kent Young, Stratton; Irvin Stowell, Townshend; Christopher Parker, Vernon; Nancy Meinhard, Wardsboro; and Russ Hodgkins, Westminster.
WSWMD STAFF PRESENT: Bob Spencer, Executive Director; Athena Lee Bradley, Programs Manager; Wendy M. Levy, District Clerk
OTHERS PRESENT: none.
CALL TO ORDER: Michelle Cherrier called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM
1. Changes or additions to the agenda: none
2. Approval of Minutes: The November 14, 2019 Board of Supervisors Meeting minutes were amended.
MOTION: APPROVE THE NOVEMBER MEETING MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 2019. THE MOTION PASSED 7-3, WITH THREE ABSTENTIONS.
3. Approval of Check Register:
MOTION: APPROVE THE CHECK REGISTER FROM NOVEMBER 2019. THE MOTION PASSED 10-0.
There was no discussion.
4. Approval of Financial Report:
Michelle Cherrier pointed out the surplus. Bob Spencer explained the reason cardboard revenues were down is because the market is soft.
MOTION: APPROVE THE FINANCIAL REPORT. THE MOTION PASSED 10-0.
5. Update on Rich Earth Institute [REI] Purchase of BOE Lease from Sky Solar:
Michelle Cherrier reported that work is in progress, and there is no report right now. REI and Sky Solar are in active communication.
Bob Spencer said REI submitted a written offer to Sky Solar. Once Sky Solar accepts an offer, WSWMD will ask REI for a revised lease since the current lease was written for the Carbon Harvest greenhouse project..
6. Consider Revision to Existing Loans of Roll-Off Containers to Member Towns:
A lengthy discussion ensued, including topics such as depreciated value of the containers, how to distribute any proceeds from possible sale of the containers, the difference in each member-towns’ needs, the terms of the agreement of the loan of the containers, and why this subject has come up for discussion. Merrill Mundell offered to create a spreadsheet to help equitably distribute the cost of the containers, including depreciation.
MOTION: CREATE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF FIVE MEMBERS TO REPORT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON ROLL-OFF BOXES. FRIENDLY AMENDMENT BY DAN TOOMEY TO CHANGE “SUBCOMMITTEE” TO “AD HOC COMMITTEE.” THE MOTION PASSED 10-0.
The tentative ad hoc committee members are Michelle Cherrier, David Jones, Nancy Meinhard, Patrick Moreland, and Merrill Mundell. Patrick Moreland will contact committee members to schedule the first meeting, and then call the first meeting.
Bob Spencer said he will get a summary of the containers, which towns have them, and the condition rating of each box before the ad hoc committee meets.
7. Update on Participation in CSWD Wage Study:
Bob Spencer reported WSWMD has opted into the RFP for a consultant to conduct a wage study along with three other waste districts. Chittenden Solid Waste District issued the RFP on behalf of the other districts. When those are in, they will give WSWMD our portion of the cost. Bob will bring that information to the BOS at the January meeting. Bob confirmed the RFP was written to ensure the analysis of WSWMD’s wages is specific to WSWMD. Bob noted he had to submit WSWMD staff positions and salaries to prepare for the RFP.
8. Consider Input from Public Hearing for FY2021 Budget:
None.
9. Programs Manager Report:
Athena Lee Bradley, Programs Manager, gave a report for the period from October 10, 2019 to November 14, 2019.
Some highlights included:
a. The Hazardous Household Waste [HHW] Fall Collection Events in Brattleboro and Stratton, in which 150 households in Brattleboro participated, and 7 households in Stratton participated. The Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) provides partial reimbursement for these events, but it still cost WSWMD $14,105.41 for the spring and fall collections, and that doesn’t include labor. This is expensive.
b. WSWMD has submitted a proposal for Vermont DEC HHW Facility Grants RFP to establish a permanent, seasonal HHW collection site at the District’s Old Ferry Road facility. The site will operate from May 1 – October 31 yearly. This would replace the HHW Collection Events, and be a less expensive system, and likely result in a higher rate of collections. The state requires the site to be open a minimum of four hours per month. The grant requires a 40-percent match, and it cannot be in-kind, so it would cost WSWMD about $12K. If we get approved, Athena Bradley will bring information to a future BOS meeting. Bob Spencer noted that if WSWMD wants to implement this program, it would require a permitting process, and wouldn’t likely open until April 2021; until then, WSWMD will continue the HHW Collection Events.
c. Ongoing public education and assistance with backyard and community composting, and recycling and composting in schools, at public events and in businesses. Also, social media outreach.
d. Updates to website.
e. The Annual Report.
f. Three grant applications.
Executive Director’s Report:
a. Bob Spencer said he is working on the Annual Report to the member towns to use in their annual reports, and it will be ready in about a week.
b. He is working on the composting permit, including increasing its capacity as a result of Long Falls Paperboard sending its paper sludge to WSWMD’s compost facility. This may require an update to the compost facility’s design; if so, he will notify the BOS when he has cost information.
c. WSWMD added three new surveillance cameras to the Old Ferry Road site. Green Backer is paying 50-percent of the cost because it benefits their solar array. This addition was a result of the theft of a catalytic converter from WSWMD’s pick-up truck while it was parked on-site.
d. Green Backer is paying WSWMD $75/hour to plow the solar array’s access roads.
e. The relationship between Green Backer and WSWMD has been very good.
Executive Session:
None.
Other Business as Legally Allowed:
Michelle Cherrier wished everyone happy holidays.
Dan Toomey asked the BOS to evaluate the Executive Director in June, and the end of the Fiscal Year. He noted this evaluation is quite overdue. Bob Spencer confirmed that WSWMD should have the results of the wage study by then.
Schedule next meeting:
The next regular BOS meeting is on January 9, 2020.
Adjournment:
MOTION: TO ADJOURN THE BOS MEETING. THE MOTION PASSED 10-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 PM.
Minutes prepared by Wendy M. Levy, District Clerk
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