Shaftsbury Solid Waste Committee
Minutes, April 18, 2006
7:30 p.m., Cole Hall
Present: Michael Biddy, Forrest Snyder, Katherine Keys, Karen Mellinger
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. The minutes of March 21, 2006 were approved with the following change: On page 1, second paragraph, third sentence under Casella Recycling Facility, it should read “Bailing of plastic material…” The minutes of April 4, 2006 were approved as presented.
Old Business:
Low Income Users under PAYT system: Karen reported demographic information related to the poverty figures in Shaftsbury. The 2000 Census statistics indicate approximately 1450 households, 1080 families; average family size is 2.99 persons and average household size is 2.64 persons. According to the Vermont Child and Family Services Division, as of December, 2003 there were 46 families (out of a total of approximately 1083 - this represents 4%) who were at or below the federal poverty level. The federal poverty level income is $9570/yr. for individuals or $12,830/yr for couples. Each additional member is allowed $265/month or $3180/year. Food stamp eligibility basically mirrors the poverty level amounts. Karen noted that Kathy Cardiff, Town Service Officer, recommends using the food stamp criteria to determine who might be eligible for assistance. This is easily verifiable and non-arbitrary.
After discussion, the committee reached consensus that should the Select Board determine it wishes to offer assistance in the PAYT program, the committee recommendation would be to utilize food stamp eligibility as the qualifying criteria. It was also agreed that the committee would recommend a discounted fee for stickers, rather than offering free stickers. This would insure the provision of an incentive to recycle.
Sticker Design: Forrest presented samples of the foil stickers. Karen noted Select Board member Jim Mead’s concern that the stickers should be numbered, in order to assure proper accounting. Katherine suggested that the school children could enter designs each year, the winner of which might have their design appear on the stickers.
Landfill Closure Update: Karen reported on the ongoing discussions the Select Board has been having between the State, the engineering firm, and potential suppliers of material. There is a source of capping material that is located directly adjacent to the landfill which is going through a testing process.
New Business:
Green-Up Day: Karen reported that bags have now been delivered around town and notices will be going out to the paper. She will be meeting with the school children on May 1st to go over details with them at the school wide assembly. Committee members agreed to donate time to help on Saturday, May 6 at the elementary school.
Working Session: Karen requested, on behalf of the Select Board, that the committee members join with the Select Board next Monday evening, April 24, 2006 at 7:45 p.m. in a working session to discuss PAYT details. The Select Board is currently developing a bid specification for the municipal transfer station management contract, and the PAYT program must be reflected in that contract. It would be helpful for the two groups to meet. The committee members agreed to do so.
Forrest will bring samples of the stickers to present to the Select Board.
The committee members agreed that one recommendation to the Select Board would be for the town to make provisions to allow additional recycling materials to be removed from the msw of residents.
Forrest notified the committee that he will be moving out of the area in the middle of May. Therefore, he regretfully must resign from the committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. The next meeting of the committee will be on Monday, April 24, 2006 as a joint working session with the Select Board. The next regular SWC meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2006.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Mellinger