Windham Solid Waste Management District (WSWMD)
Brattleboro, Vermont
Board of Supervisors Meeting
Via Zoom and In Person
Draft Minutes of August 13, 2026
Members Present:
Chair: Michelle Cherrier, Dummerston; Vice Chair(interim): Dan Toomey, Putney; Susan Bellville, Brattleboro; Stanley Noga, Jr, Brookline; Dave Eastman, Guilford; Stephan Chait, Halifax; Doris Knechtel, Newfane; Lorena Cuevas, Newfane (alternate); Irvin Stowell, Townshend; Jim Pinkerton, Vernon; Liz Spector, Wardsboro; Merrill Mundell, Wilmington
Members Absent: Stephen Dotson, Brattleboro (alternate); Doug Wellman, Brookline (alternate); Dan Baliotti, Dover; Kate Ullman, Jamaica; Jessica Pollack, Jamaica (alternate); Ellen Dudley, Marlboro; Carla Meskill, Marlboro (alternate); Rickey Harrington, Somerset; Kent Young, Stratton
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
As a quorum was present, the meeting was called to order at 6:03 PM.
- Roll Call of Supervisors: Anita performed a roll call of supervisors present. (11 towns, 12 supervisors)
- Changes or Additions to the Agenda: Dave Eastman has volunteered to take the Vice Chair position currently held by Dan Toomey (interim). Michelle made the motion to install Dave Eastman as the Vice Chair, Stanley seconded, and the motion passed with one abstention.
Dan Toomey requested a chance to provide the group with an update on the Policy & Personnel Committee under Other Business.
- Approval of the Minutes -June 2026: Dave requested his title on the Planning Group be changed from lead to facilitator. Merrill made the motion to approve the amended minutes from June, Doris seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
- Approval of Check Register & Financial Statement – June 2026: Merrill made the motion to approve the Check Register & Financial Statement for June 2026, Doris seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Approval of Check Register & Financial Statement – July 2026: Merrill made the motion to approve the Check Register & Financial Statement for June 2026, Doris seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Allocation of the FY 26 Surplus: Vicki advocated for the FY 26 surplus to be split between the unbudgeted trommel repairs needed at the compost facility and the loader to extend the life of the equipment.
Merrill made the motion to recommend to the Board of Supervisors to split the FY26 surplus of $72,768.04, designating $20,000 to the Compost Facility Plan to cover trommel repairs and the remainder of the $52,768.04 to the Equipment Capital Plan to cover loader repairs and add to the truck replacement fund. Michelle seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Approve Town of Brattleboro Contract for Curbside Organics: Bob reported that a 7-year contract was signed between WSWMD and Brattleboro to ensure that the approximate 600 tons of organics would continue to be brought to WSWMD. He noted that the Brattleboro DPW has taken over the curbside collection from Casella.
Merrill made the motion to approve the Brattleboro Contract, Doris seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Planning Group Report- Dave Eastman:
Dave provided an overview of the Planning Group’s work to plan for District improvements, the Capital Plan, and increasing revenue to potentially lower member town assessments. The group has met three times, and Dave would like to see a five-year plan developed and reviewed annually. At the present time, the group is not required to warn meetings or have minutes, however, in the future, Dave would like to see this change. Vicki discussed future funding and how the plan would be tied into the budgeting process. Dave noted that the group could make recommendations to the BOS on projects, but staff would need to provide additional information, costs, and other details before taking them on.
- Transfer Station Improvements- Peter Gaskill:
Peter reported that the bulk of the information he was receiving from the transfer station surveys indicated that most of the issues center around the layout of the transfer station. Approximately 230 surveys from 2300 sticker holders have been submitted. He relayed some thoughts and ideas regarding how to manage the disposal of items in a more efficient manner.
He also indicated that he would have the results of the survey tallies for the September BOS meeting.
- Executive Director Recruitment Process:
Michelle explained the process that the Executive Board had initiated to expedite the recruitment process. She also indicated that a smaller group would be better to vet the candidates and then have the interviewees meet the entire Board of Supervisors.
Liz made a motion to ask the Board of Supervisors to allow the Executive Board to act as a search committee to hire a new Executive Director, Doris seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Approval of the Executive Director Job Description: In reviewing the job description, #8 was reworded slightly to include “District services” & #11 was changed from Program Coordinator to Programs Coordinator.
Jim Pinkerton made the motion to approve the Executive Director job description as written with the proposed amendments to #8 & #11, Stanley seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
- Program Coordinator’s Report:
- Peter indicated that the District would receive a $7,500 pesticide grant from the VT DEC.
- He noted that he had the responsibility to complete the quarterly Re-Trac reports which outline the District’s disposal tonnages for both the transfer station and the HHW Depot.
- He is prepping and cleaning compost carts for a new customer joining the CCP route.
- Peter’s overseen attempts to control the bees and flies at the recycling and compost drop-off.
- He has been training in the scale on the new software.
- There will be a yard Safety Meeting on Tuesday, 8/18, to discuss mercury-containing products, E-waste, and the newest guidelines on disposing of solar panels.
- Outreach Coordinator’s Report:
- In June, Alex attended the Schools Plant Operation & Maintenance Conference in Winooski. She networked with other Outreach Coordinators and school facility management personnel, and the school supplier companies.
- She visited the Coventry landfill and will be providing a short presentation for the September BOS meeting.
- Alex joined a workshop held by Amber Paris, who is continuing to work on the plastic film for the art project installation at WSWMD in the fall.
- She joined the Brattleboro Park & Recs Camp for a day, conducting a recycling relay game inside the ice-skating rink.
- Alex has created videos in the past that have aired on BCTV and would like to continue to do so and highlight businesses that have notable practices for food scraps and recycling.
- She indicated that a letter went out to twenty-three (23) schools inviting them to consider WSWMD’s compost collection program (CCP) for diverting food scraps. Oak Grove school in Brattleboro signed up and will start on the route next week.
- Alex will be hosting a compost demonstration workshop at the Brattleboro Farmer’s Market on Saturday, August 15. She can also satisfy the SWIP requirements for business outreach since there are multiple businesses in one location.
- Executive Director’s Report:
- Bob and Dan Toomey had attended a memorial service for a long-time Board member, John Caldwell.
- He has signed a contract with a national pest control service for $120/month to address the increased rat population at the compost facility.
- Bob met with some Cannabis Control Board members regarding composting the leftover waste which is required by VT law in May and followed up with the consulting firm dealing with contamination and packaging.
- He is in the process of abandoning both landfill flares due to no methane activity to decrease the electricity costs of $120 per month. He has filed with the state for permission to remove the power.
- Bob is working with Rich Earth and the District lawyers to extend the lease and have the property reappraised at the termination of the lease rather than every five (5) years.
- He indicated that the current leaseholder, Altus power, is mowing the solar array four times a year rather than two.
- Bob signed a contract with Bensonwood for wood chips, and now being paid for them could bring $10,000 in revenue to the District as in the past it was an expense.
- He gave a tour of the compost facility to two women who own compost facilities and compost pickups in Alaska and Wisconsin and also visited Rich Earth Institute.
- Bob is addressing the overgrowth of brush in the stormwater catch basin at the bottom end of the landfill.
- Executive Session (if needed): N/A
- Other Business: Dan Toomey had indicated he would like to give a Policy & Personnel Committee Update. He was on Zoom and lost his connection. However, in his absence, Michelle provided the Board with a quick update that the job descriptions were not applicable for some of the District staff and would be reworked later.
- Next Meeting: 9/10/26 @ 6 PM
- Adjournment: Merrill made the motion to adjourn, Doris seconded, and the meeting was adjourned at 8:16 PM
Minutes prepared by,
Anita Grant, Office Manager & Operations Liaison/District Clerk