Windham Solid Waste Management District (WSWMD)
Brattleboro, Vermont
Finance Committee Meeting
Via ZOOM and In-Person
Minutes of March 13, 2025
Committee Members Present: Committee Chair-Merrill Mundell, Wilmington; Patrick Moreland, Brattleboro; Michelle Cherrier, Dummerston; Sandra Rulewich, Vernon; Liz Spector, Wardsboro; Also present: Jim Pinkerton, BOS alternate, Vernon
Committee Members Absent: Jim Damato, Readsboro
WSWMD Staff Present: Robert Spencer, Executive Director; Vicki Hayes, Finance Manager & HR Administrator; Peter Gaskill, Programs Coordinator; Anita Grant, Office Manager & Operations Liaison/District Clerk
Merrill called the meeting to order at 5:08 PM
- Changes and/or Additions to the Agenda: None
- Approval of Minutes- January 2025:
Liz motioned to approve the January 2025 minutes as written, Michelle seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.
- Approval of Check Registers- January & February 2025:
Patrick made a motion to recommend the Board of Supervisors approve both January & February 2025 check registers, Liz seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.
- Approval of Financial Statements- January & February 2025:
Vicki reported from the February statement since they are cumulative. February finished with a surplus of $138,725.70, however, this is not an accurate surplus. As a result of the accounting method used, the Compost Facility Expansion (CFE) expenses have not been run through the financial statements yet. However, the adjustments will be made in March’s financials.
Although February is the shortest and slowest month, revenues finished 2% above budget at $134,825, after adjusting for the CFE grant money, roughly $70,000. Since the OCC loads have declined, one load a month is still being sold, and the commodity price has held firm at $93/ton for the past few months. She reported that the $35 half-year access sticker (1st year) was very well received, and 107 stickers were sold in February. She was asked about grant money, and until the USDA report is submitted, the USDA still owes WSWMD $150,000 for the CFE grant, and VT ANR (Agency of Natural Resources) owes the District $2,300.
On the expense side, she reported that payroll was running 3% below budget; outside hauling in January of $1,000 was due to the Sterling truck being down for a couple of weeks; the final cleanout of the Household Hazardous Waste Depot was $12,000 and that expenses finished 7% over budget due to cost overruns (unbudgeted tailings removed from compost field) on the CFE project. With the tailings subtracted from the bottom line, expenses are at 67% of budget. She again reminded the committee that March financials would show the impact of the CFE project.
Patrick made a motion to recommend the Board of Supervisors approve both January & February 2025 Financials, Michelle seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.
- Executive Session (if needed): None
- Other Business: Merrill expressed concern regarding the 5 PM meeting time, as it has become inconvenient. After extensive discussion, the Committee agreed to combine agenda items and functions with the Board of Supervisors (BOS) meetings starting in April 2025. It was decided that the Finance Committee (FC) could hold special meetings and/or workshops to address budgets and other financial matters as they arise. This approach would reduce redundancy in tasks between the FC meetings and the BOS meetings, while also helping to educate the board members on financial aspects that are not thoroughly covered in the BOS meetings.
- Next Meeting: Thursday, April 10, 2025 @ 6 PM – (Joint meeting with Board of Supervisors)
- Adjournment: 5:42 PM
Minutes prepared by:
Anita Grant
Office Manager & Operations Liaison/District Clerk