Transfer Station Committee Meeting Minutes 3/27/23

Transfer Station Committee

Minutes of 3/27/23

Members present: Jim Hunt (DO); Melissa Noe (TA), Ilene Marcus and Susan Cooper.  Susan Cooper acting as Secretary. 

The meeting was convened at 9:05 am

Kenn Bassler resigned.

The committee discussed asking the Select Board for a new member.  There was the concensus that the committee should continue on an ad hoc basis to set advise the SB on sticker prices, bulkies pricing, to continue to analyze if PAYT may better serve the town, and to promote educational efforts to increase diversion of materials from the municipal solid waste stream.

The committee discussed funding of the Transfer Station (TS), continuing as currently done as a combination of taxes and user fees or transitioning to a different system and possible use of a revolving fund.  In 2022, the town collected approximately:

            $48K    in sticker fees

            $14K    in fees for bulky items (eg, white goods, construction waste, etc)

            $2.8K   in income from recycled goods.

Total   $66K

The committee recommended a sticker price of $90, based on increased hauling fees and the recommendation to begin raising fees gradually to reduce the impact of a sudden large increase.

Compost: Issues have arisen with the new system under Berkshire Compost.  The bins are lined with bags which slip down.  Usage has increased and we need to request additional bins and/or additional pick-ups.  Jim will also look into the feasibility of doing our own transport of compost to either Stanton Home or another facility.

Meeting adjourned