Board of Supervisors Meeting Minutes- 1/12/2023- Approved

| Board of Supervisor's Meeting Notices, Agendas & Minutes

Windham Solid Waste Management District (WSWMD)

Brattleboro, Vermont

Board of Supervisors Meeting

Via Zoom and In-person

Approved Minutes of January 12, 2023

 

Members Present: (In-person & Zoom)

Chair: Michelle Cherrier, Dummerston; Dan Towler, Brookline; Kevin Stine, Dover (alternate); Doris Knechtel, Newfane; Dan Toomey, Putney; Irvin Stowell, Townshend; Sandra Rulewich, Vernon; Kevin Hughes, Westminster; Merrill Mundell, Wilmington

 

Members Absent:

Vice Chair: Patrick Moreland, Brattleboro; Michael Becker, Guilford; Lewis Sumner, Halifax; Jessica Pollack, Jamaica; Stillman Vonderhorst, Marlboro; Bob Matte, Readsboro; Rickey Harrington, Somerset; Kent Young, Stratton; Wardsboro: Vacant

 

WSWMD Staff Present: Robert Spencer, Executive Director; John Fay, Programs & Operations Manager; Vicki Hayes, Finance & Office Manager; Anita Grant, Administrative & Operations Assistant, District Clerk

As a quorum was present Michelle called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM. She then asked for a rollcall which Anita performed, followed by a staff introduction as there were guests at the meeting.

 

  1. Changes and/or Additions to the Agenda: Since the guest speakers from Encore Energy were present at the beginning of the meeting, Michelle moved their presentation up from #7 to 1A (in this case, #2 in the minutes). Also, Vicki pointed out the presentation was going to be about a Battery Energy Storage System, instead of a proposal for a Solar Lease Buyout.

 

  1. Consider Proposal for Battery Energy Storage System:

Bill Barnes & Rob Greer from Encore Renewable Energy Solutions gave a presentation to express their desire to build a 20-megawatt battery storage facility on WSWMD property. The facility would need half an acre of land to install approximately six shipping containers to house a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), as well as transformers. The storage system would be utilized by Green Mountain Power for 500 hours per year to support emergency and other circuits in the event of a broad outage. The proposal would provide WSWMD with a rental income of $20,000 annually for a fully termed 25-year lease, with up to four 5-year extensions.

After much discussion regarding a viable location of the containers, safety of the site and personnel, and other questions and concerns, Michelle asked that the presentation be distributed to all the board members and tabled as an agenda item for the March BOS meeting.

 

  1. Approval of Minutes from December 8, 2022:

Sandra mentioned that she was really impressed with the way the minutes were written and thanked Anita for making them easy to follow.

 

Motion to accept the minutes from December 8, 2022, made by Doris, seconded by Dan Towler, with one abstention and the motion was carried.

 

  1. Approval of December 2022 Check Register:

Merrill mentioned that discussion took place at the Finance Committee Meeting about the check to repair the old backhoe, but no further check register discussion was made. 

 

Motion to approve the Check Register for December 2022; made by Merill, seconded by Irvin and the motion was carried.

 

  1. Approval of Financial Statements for December 2022:

Vicki reported that revenues were down due to the time of year (“the slow season”) and that the surplus was reduced by a $28,000 transmission replacement to the old backhoe, replacing the power steering pump in the shop truck, and repairs made on the pup trailer.  Revenue was up slightly due to more OCC loads due to the Christmas rush, and an increase in access sticker sales. Overall, WSWMD is 11% ahead of the expected budget revenue, even with tip fees falling $10,000 in December.

 

Motion to approve the Financial Statements for December 2022; made by Doris, seconded by Merill and the motion was carried.

 

  1. Consider Reduction of Allowance for Bad Debts:
  • Vicki explained that a recommendation was made by our auditor Tyler Kimberly, from Mudget Jennett & Krogh-Wisner, that the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts be reduced from $10,000 to $5,000.
  • A question was asked regarding bad debts vs. doubtful accounts and Vicki explained that it is basically a balance sheet adjustment, showing a realistic value of the Accounts Receivable (AR) if ever the District had to liquidate its assets.
  • Since the District has lowered its outstanding AR accounts from approximately $35,000 to $15,000, the auditor felt it was being overstated on the balance sheet.
  • Vicki explained to the board that it’s just a balance sheet adjustment and will not affect the budget or other financials.

 

A motion to Reduce the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts from $10,000 to $5,000 was made by Merill, seconded by Kevin Hughes, and the motion was carried.

 

  1. Consider Board Support of Vermont House Bill (H-115) Establishing Extended Producer Responsibility To Household Hazardous Waste Sold in Vermont:
  • John explained the background of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to the board. Basically, it would require the manufacturer to be held financially responsible for end-of-life and/or disposal costs of household hazardous waste (HHW). It was compared to the paint program where the consumer pays an extra 99 cents at the time of purchase to defray the cost of paint recycling.
  • John and Bob explained that House Bill (H-115) had passed the House but was not picked up by the Senate (and now there is a new legislative biennium, so the bill will need to be reintroduced) and wanted to inquire about any interest in taking a stand on the legislature by the board.
  • Other Solid Waste Districts had already submitted letters backing the bill, and WSWMD had submitted a draft letter to the board for their consideration of a standing. There was some support for the letter as written, as well as support for the letter with some changes, but overall, there was some resistance to taking a stand on this outdated bill until a new draft is filed in the new legislative session. 
  • Michelle then polled the present members individually and determined that it was in their best interest to wait until the legislative session reconvenes with a new bill and follow up at that point to see if the board would take a stand or not on the issue. She also indicated that it could be added to the March meeting agenda for further discussion.

 

  1. Program Manager’s Report:
  • John reported that he has submitted next year’s USDA Grant for about $80,000, which includes approximately 25% of the costs of piloting drop-off food scrap sites.
  • John helped the new Goodwill Store (located in the old Peebles Department Store in Brattleboro) get their electronics recycling program going with VT E-Cycles. This gives area residents another option for recycling electronics when WSWMD is closed.
  • John thanked Dan Towler for alerting him the letter to the editor in the Brattleboro Reformer, where a resident suggested people were trying to sabotage the new glass recycling bin. John indicated that the yard staff has been very diligent about removing contamination daily and the 5% contamination rate gives a lot of leeway and he’s not concerned.
  • Michelle asked about the MRF Tour Video that was to be posted on the website and indicated he would let her know as soon as it was completed by Alex.

  

  1. Executive Director’s Report:
  • Compost Facility Expansion: WSWMD received the zoning permit from the town of Brattleboro on 12/21/22 and is now waiting on approval from the state.
  • The District funded a small holiday party for the staff at Hazel Restaurant in mid-December.
  • Bob, John, and Michelle attended the Windham County Legislation Delegation along with local trash haulers (Goodenough Rubbish, Franklin & Sons), along with State Representative Sara Coffey to discuss the high cost of recycling.
  • At the request of the Town of Vernon, Bob and John reviewed a proposal for a new landfill in Vernon for disposal of “development soils” a category that is not as contaminated as hazardous waste and has less restrictive regulatory requirements.
  • Bob will be attending the United States Composting Council Conference at the end of January 2023, after he decided not to attend last year’s conference due to high Covid numbers in Texas and was issued a credit for his registration.
  • Bob is still working with area food producers to attract new business to the compost facility for the larger capacity permit. He had met with the Grateful Greens business that’s upgrading their sprout growing facility and moving into the Cotton Mill Hill building in Brattleboro. He said that a new industrial bakery is also in development in Brattleboro. He also said he’s constantly seeking new outlets for compost.
  • The District is selling its Pup Trailer, and has it parked on our property with a For Sale sign with an asking price of $7,000 or best offer.
  • Bob and John are currently working on grant applications for a US EPA grant, and a VT ANR grant, for funds for the Compost Facility Expansion and hope to have updates for the March meeting.

 

  1. Executive Session (if needed): None

 

  1. Next Meeting: Thursday, March 9, 2023 @ 7:00 PM

 

  1. Other Business: None

 

  1. Adjournment: Merril made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Doris seconded, and the meeting was adjourned at 8:42

 

Minutes prepared by,

 

Anita Grant

Administrative & Operations Assistant, District Clerk