WINDHAM SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT
FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING
December 4, 2014
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Merrill Mundell, Chair, Wilmington; Tony Gordon; Marlboro; James Damato, Readsboro and Jan Ameen, Westminster
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: David Schoales, Brattleboro
WSWMD STAFF PRESENT: Robert Spencer, Executive Director; Phil Baker, Operations Manager; Kristen Benoit Office Manager/Program Coordinator and John (Skip) Bonnett, Assistant Operations Manager
OTHERS PRESENT: Louis Bruso, Jr., Chair of Board of Supervisors; Paul Grandmaison, Certified Public Accountant; Cheryl Franklin, Guilford Board of Supervisor; Patrick Moreland, Brattleboro Interim Town Manger; Peter Gaskill, Triple T Trucking; and Trevor Mance and Mary Beth Maguire, TAM Waste Management.
The meeting was called to order by 6:01 p.m. by Mr. Mundell, Chair.
1) Changes to Agenda:
Mr. Bruso informed the Finance Committee there are new developments in the single stream proposals the District received from TAM Waste Management and Triple T Trucking/Casella Waste Systems and suggested the Finance Committee discuss single stream recycling versus dual stream recycling first on the agenda.
1a) Single Stream Recycling Versus Dual Stream Recycling:
Mr. Bruso passed out a single stream/dual stream recycling comparison spreadsheet. Mr. Bruso informed the Committee the Town of Brattleboro received a proposal from Triple T Trucking to convert to single stream recycling and noted this would result in a loss of incoming materials for the WSWMD. The Finance Committee reviewed and discussed the spreadsheet. Mr. Bruso suggested the single steam budget be added to the agenda of the upcoming Board of Supervisor’s Meeting on December 11th. Ms. Ameen reminded the Committee the District does not yet know the implications of Act 148 (Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law) and stated it may not be prudent to convert to single stream recycling at this time. It was agreed the Finance Committee would recommend a dual stream budget for fiscal year 2016 to the Board of Supervisors.
Mr. Moreland asked the Finance Committee to evaluate a “fee for service” and the distribution of costs/ expenses for member communities.
3) FY 2016 Budget:
The Finance Committee reviewed and discussed the proposed FY 2016 budget, including but not limited to, potential lease income from the former Carbon Harvest Energy facility, potential income from the proposed solar array, and worker’s compensation insurance. It was noted the budget reflects an increase of 5.6% increase in assessments. Ms. Benoit passed out a spreadsheet showing the monetary increase to each town with the 5.6% increase.
Motion made, seconded and carried the Finance Committee propose to the Board of Supervisors
the budget currently listed as the Dual Stream Fiscal Year 2016 Budget, which reflects an assessment of $517,532.00.
The Finance Committee discussed the Public Hearing and agreed the hearing would be held on December 30, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.
2) Approval of Minutes: November 13, 2014:
Motion was made, seconded and carried to approve the Minutes of November 13th as presented.
4) Other Business as Legally Allowed:
None
5) Executive Session – (if needed):
None
6) Adjournment:
Motion was made, seconded, and carried to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:51 p.m.
Kristen Benoit, District Clerk