Windham Solid Waste Management District (WSWMD)
Brattleboro, Vermont
Board of Supervisors Meeting
Via Zoom and In Person
Draft Minutes of April 9, 2026
Members Present: (In-person)
Chair: Michelle Cherrier, Dummerston; Vice Chair (interim): Dan Toomey, Putney; Stanley Noga, Jr, Brookline; Stephan Chait, Halifax (alternate); Kate Ullman, Jamaica; Doris Knechtel, Newfane; Lorena Cuevas, Newfane (alternate); James Damato, Readsboro; Irvin Stowell, Townshend; Jim Pinkerton, Vernon; Liz Spector, Wardsboro; Merrill Mundell, Wilmington
Members Absent: Amanda Ellis-Thurber, Brattleboro; Stephen Dotson, Brattleboro (alternate); Doug Wellman, Brookline (alternate); Dan Baliotti, Dover; Joseph Mahon (alternate); Dave Eastman, Guilford; Lewis Sumner, Halifax; Jessica Pollack, Jamaica (alternate); Ellen Dudley, Marlboro; Carla Meskill, Marlboro (alternate); Rickey Harrington, Somerset; Kent Young, Stratton; Westminster (vacant)
WSWMD Staff Present: Robert Spencer, Executive Director; Vicki Hayes, Finance Manager & HR Administrator; Peter Gaskill, Programs Coordinator; Alex Lacy, Outreach Coordinator; Anita Grant, Office Manager & Operations Liaison/District Clerk
Michelle called the meeting to order at 6:03 PM
- Roll Call of Supervisors: Anita conducted a roll call of the supervisors present. (11 towns, 12 supervisors)
- Changes or Additions to the Agenda: None
- Annual Reorganization:
- New Supervisors: Lorena Cuevas- alternate for Newfane, Joseph Mahon- alternate for Dover
- Board Chair: Jim Damato made the motion to appoint Michelle Cherrier as the returning BOS board chair, Merrill seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Vice Chair: Merrill made the motion to appoint Dan Toomey as the interim Vice Chair; Liz seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Treasurer: Vicki Hayes, Finance Manager, volunteered to be treasurer. Merrill made the motion to appoint Vicki Hayes as the treasurer; Jim Damato seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- District Clerk: Merrill made the motion to appoint Anita Grant as the returning District Clerk; Liz seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Committee Members
- Since there was a quorum of the Finance Committee & Personnel/Policy committees, members voted to approve the committee chairs at this meeting rather than wait for May.
- Finance Committee: Jim Pinkerton made the motion to appoint Merrill as the Finance chair, Jim Damato seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Personnel/Policy Committee: Liz made the motion to appoint Dan Toomey as the Personnel/Policy chair, Merrill seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Liz Spector removed herself from the Finance Committee to join the Personnel/Policy Committee. Stanley Noga, Jr., volunteered to be on both committees.
Executive Board: The current members of the Executive Board will consist of Michelle Cherrier, Merrill Mundell, and Dan Toomey. The fourth representative will be whoever assumes the vice-chair position.
Designation of Meeting, Place, Date, and Time:
- Jim Damato made the motion to accept the ten months of meetings (no meetings in February or July) taking place on the second Thursday of the month, at 6 PM at the district office at 327 Old Ferry Rd, Brattleboro, and virtually through Zoom. Liz seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Designation of Check Signers: There were no new check signers added.
Designation of Official Newspapers:
- Liz made the motion to approve the Commons and the Deerfield Valley News to remain as the official newspapers for the district; Dan Toomey seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Confirm Warning/Posting Locations: Vernon & Brattleboro town offices, WSWMD office, and WSWMD website were confirmed as the public posting locations.
- Approval of BOS Minutes- March 2026:
Anita realized she omitted the start time from the minutes and will make the appropriate change.
Merrill made the motion to approve the March 2026 BOS minutes, Liz seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Approval of Check Register- March 2026:
Merrill made the motion to approve the Check Register of March 2026, Irv seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Approval of the Financial Statement- March 2026:
Vicki reported that the district was in a $31,400 deficit through March, citing non-receipt of Q3 renewable energy credits. Revenues and expenses both ended the quarter at 73% of budget. She also indicated that the access sticker sales, starting May 1, and upcoming compost sales, would help boost the revenue.
Stanley made the motion to approve the Financial Statement of March 2026, Merrill seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
- Approval of the Proposed FY 27 Transfer Station Fees:
The Finance Committee had passed a motion to accept some of the proposed fees, but after some more review by the board, it was tabled until the May meeting for further research. A vote will take place in May in both the Finance Committee and the Board of Supervisors.
- Programs Coordinator’s Report:
- WSWMD Swap Shop will be reopening on Saturday, April 11, at 8:30 AM.
- He and Thomas attended a tour and training at the Central Vermont Solid Waste District (CVSWD) household hazardous waste collection facility with other solid waste districts and state employees from the Agency of Natural Resources. (ANR).
- WSWMD Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Depot will open on Tuesday, May 12, at 8:30 AM.
- Peter is working on a Disaster Debris Plan (SWIP requirement) and coordinating with the Windham Regional Commission to update contact information and disposal sites.
- The second revision of the residential survey has started and plans on being distributed starting May 1, 2026, when the FY 27 access stickers go on sale.
- Outreach Coordinator’s Report:
- Alex has visited Dover & Readsboro transfer stations and is currently working on updating their recycling information and plans to add other transfer stations.
- She is working with the Farm to School teachers, both in Putney and Dummerston elementary schools. She noted that WSWMD donates compost to their garden program, and she lends her expertise.
- Alex will be conducting some compost workshops (dates to be determined) and plans on contacting the VT Master Composters Association to have interns assist her.
- She and Bob met with Jack Eaton regarding erosion control socks to filter runoff from the compost facility.
- She also attended the VT ReuseApalooza conference in Montpelier with Bob, Stephen Dotson, and Liz Spector.
- She will be attending the PFAS Conference in Worcester, MA one day next week. She is interested in soil remediation and noted that John Fay (previous Programs Manager) would be presenting.
- Executive Director’s Report:
- Bob reported that he joined the advisory committee for VT ReuseApalooza and learned there was possible state funding for a repair café integrated with the Swap Shop.
- He informed the board about Goodenough Rubbish and Franklin & Sons selling their businesses to USA Waste from CT and the potential loss of cardboard from the Goodenough route.
- He announced the Brattleboro Selectboard meeting on Saturday, April 11, would be voting for the DPW to assume the residential pickup of compost. If successful, he would initiate a contract between WSWMD and the DPW.
- He reported that the new setup for the compost collection route was working efficiently and hopes to add other transfer stations and schools.
- Bob received three quotes for wireless temperature probes for the compost facility. One company is offering a free two-month pilot. No costs or quotes were provided.
- Two pallets of bagged compost will be delivered tomorrow to Blue Seal and the Brattleboro Co-op, to be sold at retail. He indicated that the bagger built in-house can fill 12 bags at once and is very efficient.
- He mentioned that he was still collaborating with Ralph Meima on the Energy History of WSWMD, which is an ongoing project.
- Executive Session (if needed): N/A
- Other Business: None
- Next Meeting: Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 6 PM
- Adjournment: Jim Damato made the motion to adjourn at 7:43 PM
Minutes prepared by,
Anita Grant, Office Manager & Operations Liaison/District Clerk