SWC MEETING MINUTES

 SWC MEETING MINUTES - 9/16/19

1)Meeting called to order at 5:40 pm.

2)Attendance- Present- Tara Albert, Jen Holt, Andy Sanborn, Jeff Burns, Dave Swanay.   Absent- Bob White.

3)Motion was made by Tara to allow Andy Sanborn to Vote during this meeting. Second by  Dave. Discussion-none. Vote- Yes- 4, No-0 , Abstain-0. Motion carries, Andy Sanborn to Vote this Meeting.

4)SWC/BOS updates- Jen advised the committee ;

a.)Rick has submitted his letter of resignation. His last day will be 9/26/19.

b.)The BOS will be interviewing candidates for Rick’s replacement.

c.)Julie Lonergan has been appointed the new TC/TC. The Town is seeking her replacement as Rec director.

d.) A new Selectman has been chosen.

e.)Jen informed the committee that she has emailed the T.A.,Trish Stafford, multiple times regarding obtaining the NRRA reports (July&August 2019)and the Town financial statements- July 1,2018 to June 30,2019 including the current fiscal year for the Transfer Station without success. Jen will stop by the Town offices this week in an attempt to further expedite the transfer of information.

5)Old Home day report- Tara reported that she answered the residents questions regarding recycling,pay as you throw trash and glass. Tara provided educational materials including covering topics of hazardous household waste disposal. Tara stated that summer residents requested the Transfer Station have hours open on Monday mornings to allow them more access to the facility.

The committee thanks Tara for all her hard work in representing SWC during Old Home Day and braving the scorching heat.

6) Solid Waste Market updates- Tara informed the committee Single Stream prices continue to rise. Scrap metal down $20/ton. SWC needs to prepare for the towns expiring contract with Casella in 10/2020.  Food waste reduction is a point of focus with the Seacoast and Keene encouraging composting. Keene is offering their residents subsidiaries for backyard composting.

7) Financial analysis- Dave is unable to update the committee due to the lack of information provided by the T.A. to the SWC.

Discussion -The committee discussed that the town has entered its budget preparation season. Typically SWC prepares a T.S. budget each year to assist in the T.S. budget formulation process.

Earlier this year SWC brought to the BOS attention, that SWC was told by the T.S. Department head   ” your help is not needed,the budget is all done.” The T.S. D.H. Also refused to share the completed budget with SWC for review.  The result was a significant spending increase for the T.S. Budget . Additionally, in certain line items, the T.S. had exhausted its budget before the midpoint of the budget cycle.

Additionally, SWC discussed the T.S. D.H. And the BOS entering into a “glass contract” in 12/18  without SWC being privy to the contract existence or allowing the SWC to review or advise the BOS on said contract. The result of the glass contract currently appears to not be in the best fiscal interest of the Town. Both of these actions do not adhere to Article 2 of the Special Town Meeting of 12/2015.

Couple this with the town seeking a new hire for the Transfer Station manager, SWC sees it imperative that they produce a fiscally responsible and transparent budget for consideration. SWC discussed their options for gathering the financial data needed to continue their charge given in Article 2 of the Special Town Meeting on 12/2015.  Jen voiced her frustration in her inability to obtain results,despite multiple email requests and meeting with Interim T.A. Omara. The necessary financial reports from the Town and NRRA to SWC ceased to be shared upon the departure of Sanbornton's former T.A. Katie Ambrose in June.

Conclusion -  SWC has decided that Jen will continue to request the information from Trish Stafford by emailing and visiting the Town office. If that yields no results Jen will request information directly from Peggy. In the event those attempts all fail to acquire the needed financial reports , Jen will appeal to the BOS for intervention.

8)Vote to accept 8/19/19 SWC Draft Meeting Minutes as written . Motion made by Tara. Second by Andy. Discussion- none. Vote: Yes-5,  No-0 , Abstain-0.

Motion to accept Draft SWC 8/19/19 meeting minutes as written passes unanimously.

9)Other business-SWC budget preparation discussion- Jen will request for T.A. Trish Stafford, to  inform the BOS at their next meeting that SWC is beginning to work on the Transfer Station budget .

10)Public comment- None.

11)Next regular meeting-10/21/19 @5:30 pm.

12)Meeting adjourned at 7:25p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,  

Jen Holt- SWC Chair/Recorder

09/25/19