SWC Meeting Minutes

Meeting date: 
Monday, June 17, 2019

   SWC MEETING MINUTES- 06/17/2019

 

1)Meeting called to order @ 5:35pm

 

2) Call of Attendance-Present; Jen Holt, Tara Albert, Dave Swanay.

Absent; Andy Sanborn, Jeff Burns, Bob White.

 

3) BOS/SWC Updates: Jen advised the committee the following updates;

 

a) Katie Ambrose has resigned,her last day will be June 21st. The BOS is currently searching for Katie's replacement. All members present expressed great respect and appreciation for all the support,assistance and encouragement Katie has provided to SWC.

 

 

b)Jen reported that she asked Katie to clarify the personnel status of the T.S? Back in May, Rick informed several SWC members  that he was selling his house and leaving the Transfer Station soon. Katie stated that “Rick has sold his house, however he has not submitted a formal letter of resignation to the BOS.”

 

 

c) On 6/6/19 Katie A. informed Jen that BOS had scheduled the ”joint meeting” between T.S., BOS and SWC for 6/26/19 during BOS regular weekly meeting. Jen requested for Katie to communicate the following concerns/requests to the BOS;

 

  1) During the 3/27/19 BOS Meeting, SWC requested “a joint meeting to take place after all 3 parties have attended the 2-3 Solid Waste education conferences, ensuring that all 3 parties will be on the same educated page prior to the joint meeting.”  BOS and Rick agreed that this was an important factor to move forward. BOS stated they would attend 2 out of the 3 conferences. Rick(T.S met with Jen 3/26/19) & SWC stated they would attend all 3 conferences. Results- SWC- attended 3 conferences, T.S.- attended 1 conference and the BOS- attended 0 of the conferences. The goal of meeting after “all 3 parties are on the same educated page” has not been met.




 

  2) SWC was under the impression that the “joint meeting “ would be held during a separate public meeting. Katie A. advised Jen that June 26th has a full agenda inclusive of the board reconsidering the Solar Farm issue. SWC is requesting for the “joint meeting “ to take place separate from the BOS regular meeting. In order to facilitate an open,transparent,productive discussion between all 3 parties. Preferably prior to Katie A’s departure. SWC offered to host the joint meeting  on 6/17/19. SWC would like to remind BOS that they advised SWC to address any concerns or issues during the joint meeting.




 

-Results of SWC request- BOS offered to hold the joint meeting on 6/26 @ 4:30pm or to add the “joint meeting “ to BOS 7/10/19 agenda.  After surveying SWC, Jen reported to Katie A. that 6/26 doesn't work for at least 2 SWC members. Katie A. informed Jen that the BOS decided not to utilize the SWC meeting time. Jen advised Katie that she would bring the meeting options to SWC for discussion on June 17th. Jen will relay SWC decision to Katie.



 

4) Discussion of joint meeting options- A few SWC members are away during the 7/10/19 BOS meeting. Additionally, July 10th is not a separate joint meeting time. All SWC members present were concerned that the BOS and T.S. Department Head did not attend the education conferences that they had previously committed to. At this point SWC believes that under the current circumstances,issues will not be addressed, nor will progress be made be made through a “ joint meeting”. Given the current and upcoming personnel changes,BOS beginning their summer meeting schedule,the lack of follow thru on the education opportunities and the inability to secure a separate meeting time to ensure a productive,goal setting meeting.


 

A Motion was made by Jen to “delay holding a joint meeting between SWC,BOS and T.S. until the criteria of; permanent staff replacement,T.S. And BOS complete the agreed upon education,and a separate meeting  to the joint meeting is achieved.” Second-Dave. Discussion-None. Vote-Yes-3, No-0, abstain-0. Motion carries. Jen will advise Katie A.


 

5) T.S. Fiscal Analysis: Dave reported that hauling fees remain high. The S.S. compactor was installed to decrease the need for frequent hauls thereby decreasing hauling costs. Paying to have S.S. hauled once a week is unnecessary,excessive and costly for the town. Especially given that; glass is currently removed from Single Stream, the Transfer Station holds an extra container in reserve for overflow , and the S.S. containers are being  hauled away with only 2-3 tons in them. This translates into the town paying a hauling fee to carry away a container that is 63% empty. Continuing this practice for scheduling convenience is wasteful and not a fiscally responsible practice.






 

6) Solid Waste Market Update: Tara reported highlights from the recent NRRA monthly meeting she attended.

 

A new generation of Damaged battery kits are now available to municipalities. The cost is $85.00 each and includes shipping. The new battery boxes can hold up to 4 lbs of damaged batteries and  are lined with flame retardant material.

 

        

           b) Massachusetts will be opening a new glass processing plant for PGA.


 

c) A new NH the Beautiful grant is available. It will pay up to 50% in return on floor        scales and recyclable material storage containers. Fairbanks scales is offering a 25% off sale on their floor scales.

 


 

7) Motion to Accept/Amend Meeting Minutes of 05/13/19 as written made by Tara. Second by Dave. Discussion-none. No amendments required to draft minutes. Vote- Yes-3, No-0, Abstain-0. Motion carried, minutes of 5/13/19 accepted as written.



 

8) Jen made a motion to not meet in July. Second by Dave. Discussion - At Least 2 members will be away on  vacation in July. Vote- Yes-3, No-0, Abstain-0. Motion carries SWC will not meet in July.


 

9) Public Comment -None


 

10) Next SWC meeting is August 19,2019 @ 5:30 pm.


 

11) Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.




 

Respectively submitted,

   

Jennifer Holt- SWC Chair & Recorder

           6/24/2019