Board of Supervisors Meeting Minutes- 12/14/23

| 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 December 14, 2023

 

Members Present: (In-person & Zoom)

Chair: Michelle Cherrier, Dummerston; Vice Chair: Patrick Moreland, Brattleboro; Dan Towler, Brookline; Lewis Sumner, Halifax, Stephan Chait, Halifax (alternate); Doris Knechtel, Newfane; Dan Toomey, Putney; Jim Damato, Readsboro; Irvin Stowell, Townshend; Sandra Rulewich, Vernon; Kevin Hughes, Westminster; Merrill Mundell, Wilmington

Members Absent:

Daniel Ballioti, Dover; Michael Becker, Guilford; Jessica Pollack, Jamaica; Stillman Vonderhorst, Marlboro; Bob Matte, Readsboro; Rickey Harrington, Somerset; Kent Young, Stratton; Wardsboro: Vacant

WSWMD Staff Present: Bob Spencer, Executive Director; John Fay, Programs Manager; Anita Grant, Office Manager & Operations Liaison/District Clerk.

WSWMD Staff Absent: Vicki Hayes, Finance Manager & HR Administrator

 

As a quorum was present, Michelle called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Anita then performed a roll call of members present.

 

  1. Changes and/or Additions to the Agenda:

Kevin Hughes announced to the BOS that this would be his last meeting as the Westminster representative for WSWMD, as that seat will now be taken over by the new Town Manager, Lou Bordeaux. He thanked the board for all their hard work and was very grateful to be a participant.

 

  1. Approval of Minutes from November 2023:

 

Merrill made a motion to approve the minutes from November 2023, seconded by Patrick, and the motion was carried with one abstention.

 

  1. Approval of Check Register for November 2023:

 

Jim made a motion to accept the November 2023 check register, Merrill seconded, and the motion was carried.

 

  1. Approval of Financial Statements for November 2023:

Bob reported that the District finished with revenues at 46% of the YTD budget estimate and the month ended with a deficit of $4,200. A question was asked about Salaries and wages, Bob reported that they are currently 41% of budget.

 

Jim made a motion to accept the Financial Statements for November 2023, Doris seconded, and the motion was carried.

  

  1. Consider Results of the Public Hearing for the FY 25 Budget:

There were no participants in the public hearing for the FY 25 Budget, so there are no comments to report.

 

  1. Ratify the FY 25 Budget:

Jim thanked the staff for sticking to a 4% increase in assessments and for all their hard work in getting the budget out promptly. There was no further discussion regarding the FY 25 budget.

 Jim made a motion to ratify the FY 25 Budget and Capital Plan with Revenues of $1,205,737.00, Expenses of $1,416,168.00, and Assessments totaling $265,431.00. Merrill seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.

 

  1. Programs Manager’s Report:
  • John Fay, the current Programs Manager, indicated to the board that after three and a half years, he was moving on to a new job as a Project Manager for NEWMOA (Northeast Waste Management Officials Association), working with the State Agencies at the higher levels. He thanked the members of the Board of Supervisors and the Finance Committee for all their involvement and hard work within the District.
  • USDA Project: John reported that Alex Lacy was working in the field, visiting town offices to groom the “welcome wagon” package that each town could give out to new businesses and residents regarding waste management. He also indicated that she was working on a pilot program for centralized food scrap drop-offs for businesses and that they were looking at the Wilmington/Dover corridor as a potential spot.
  • HHW Depot: John reported that the HHW Depot just about broke even for CY 23, which cost a little over $52,000 but will be receiving over $38,000 from the SWIP payment, as well as $4,000 from VT Agency of Natural Resources Pesticides grant, along with roughly $9,500 from area residents and businesses that paid for hazardous waste disposal. He also reported that Anita would be holding another collection at some point in January for any leftover winter HHW.

 

  1. Executive Director’s Report:
  • Bob reported that WSWMD would not be pursuing any USDA grants for FY 25 as the application was due by 12/31/23 and with the staffing issues, had decided to wait for the next grant period.
  • He indicated that the temporary part-time worker was going to apply for the full-time yard worker position. He also reported that Joe Gobin, the yard foreman, would be leaving at the end of the week along with John Fay and that Dick Petrie was still out and not cleared for light duty yet following his knee replacement.
  • Bob let the board know that the cardboard rate rose another $5 to $103/ton.
  • A large trommel has been rented for a month to screen compost that needs to be moved before the Compost Facility Expansion (CFE) breaks ground next Spring. He also indicated that a local contractor was purchasing 2,000 yards of compost at a discounted rate and that the order would be filled over the next couple of months, weather permitting.
  • The WSWMD FY 23 Annual Report has been completed and will be disseminated to the towns next week.
  • Joe Kowalski, prior Operations Manager had died of a heart attack at 75.
  • Bob is assisting the Vernon Town Administrator, Shelly Banford, and Selectboard with a bid for curbside trash and recycling service. He and Sandra have had several meetings with Shelly. The RFP was sent to about 15 companies but only one bid was received, Casella Waste.
  • Compost Facility Expansion (CFE): The bid is out and due back on 1/10/24, with four companies expressing interest in bidding on the project. Bob said that Steve Horton (Steve Horton Consulting) would be handling the bidding process.
  • Stub Thomas Surface Rights: WSWMD’s lawyer has indicated that a court judgment is to be filed against Jet Gas for not responding to any of the numerous requests to execute a quitclaim deed relinquishing Stub’s surface rights on the property where the CFE is to be constructed. Two other parties, including Stub’s heirs, have signed such quitclaim deeds.

 

  1. Executive Session (if needed): None

 

  1. Other Business: None

 

  1. Next Meeting: Thursday, January 11, 2024 @ 7 PM

 

  1. Adjournment:

Jim made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Lewis seconded, and the meeting adjourned at 8:04 PM.

 

Minutes prepared by,

 

Anita Grant

Office Manager & Operations Liaison/District Clerk