HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-05-08 Solid Waste Advisory Committee MinutesSolid Waste Advisory Committee
May 8, 1996; Berger Room, Reading Town Hall Annex
Present: Members- Bob Brown, Kay Clark, Jean Krogh, Anne Mark, Martha Moore, Sally Sabo, Lynda
Zarrow, Staff- Ruth Clay, Ted McIntire; Guests- Linda King, Bruce MacDonald (Selectman) , Barbara
Ward (Summit Towers)
Sally called the meeting to order at 7:35. The April meeting minutes were approved as amended.
Committee Personnel Next Year:
There are two 3-year positions available next year on the Committee. Martha made a motion to
recommend that the Board of Selectmen re-appoint Anne and Kay for full membership and Carol Nelson
for full or associate membership should these people chose to re-apply. The motion was seconded by
Lynda and unanimously approved. Sally and Martha will not be returning next year.
Reports and Comments:
Bob collected less than 2 ounces of button batteries.
We discussed the Earth Day exhibit SWAC set up in Woburn Mall on April 27. At this exhibit, we
handed out information about unit pricing to Reading residents who approached the display.
Anne cleaned out the library circulation box on May 7 and it was noted the notebook containing the
Master Plan is missing. Jean will look for it. Bob distributed new publications for us to review for the
circulation box.
Martha will deliver her unit pricing article, that appeared in Reading Notes, to Paul Feeley for
publication in The Chronicle. When she drops off her article, she will check on the status of the computer
recycling piece previously submitted but not yet published. Ted will provide Jean with details on the
recycling changes effective July 1, 1996. She will prepare an article for the June's Reading Notes (which
contains the July 1996 calendar). Ruth will produce flyers highlighting these changes and hand them out
at the household hazardous waste collection.
Bob noted that he has placed a brochure from SEMASS (waste to energy) in the library box .
Upcoming Events:
Ruth will tour Wheelabrator in Shrewsbury, where they have an incinerator and ash residue landfill.
She'll request input from Worcester DPW about their unit pricing program.
Unit Pricing:
Ted distributed three letters received in response to our presentation to Town Meeting. We planto give
presentations to the School Committee and PTO groups in the fall. The subcommittee will meet and
review the telephone book to determine potential audiences for future presentations. We plan to present
through June, minimize summer presentations and increase again in September. A cable television
presentation will be arranged for sometime this summer.
Bruce MacDonald arranged a presentation to FinCom for May 15. We'll ask their advice on making unit
pricing revenue neutral. Ted commented that the Year 1 budget impact of unit pricing will appear as an
increase in revenues (from sticker sales) and a decrease in expenses (disposal costs). Also, the BoS will
need to amend the trash rules and regulations.
Bruce will also speak to Bob Hilliard, a Reading resident and Wayland's treasurer, for input about making
unit pricing revenue neutral. Bruce and Ted will create a fact sheet about revenue neutrality for our use.
We discussed the possibility of offering one free sticker per week, and will present both options to FinCom
($.65/sticker, none free and $1/sticker with one free per week).
Bob promised to deliver copies of our Town Meeting handout to Town Hall for distribution to FinCom
attendees. Kay will distribute revised financial spreadsheets at the meeting.
Ted noted that Dick Smith, of Summit Towers, provided a list of condominium representative names and
phone numbers. Ted will meet with condo boards and conduct site visits to determine space available for
recycling. The visits are planned for June.
Anne said she will contact Joe Lambert to obtain financial data from other towns with unit pricing in
place.
Lynda will draft a form letter to be sent out to residents in response to comments received about unit
pricing. Ted will put the letter on Town stationary.
Computer Collecting:
Linda King circulated a form that will be given to people dropping off computer equipment. Issue raised:
How to handle money collected for broken equipment since no member of East-West Foundation will
attend the event, and we cannot legally collect money? Linda will raise the issue with East-West. Also,
Richard Foley (Town accountant) and Peter Hechenbleikner may advise. Bob Brown, Sally Sabo, Jean
Krogh and her husband will staff the collection.
Ted will make copies of the computer collection flyer for Ruth to distribute to Reading residents at the
household hazardous waste collection.
Status of Contracts:
At a recent Town Meeting, a motion was made and accepted for the Town Manager to have FinCom
review the disposal contract . Therefore, this contract is pending due to the review process. FinCom will
discuss at the May 15 meeting.
Old Business:
Ted has a list of about 30 names for composting bins. He plans to order 30 Brave New Composters and
20 Earth Machines.
New Business:
Community Day is scheduled for Memorial Day. Anne, Jean, Martha, and Sally plan to staff a S WAC
exhibit about composting and unit pricing. We'll conduct a free raffle of a composting bin.
Kay mentioned she would contact Atlantic Supermarket about allowing us to set up a table after June 8, at
which we could distribute information about unit pricing and recycling. We also discussed distributing
unit pricing information at the Compost Area.
Adjourn:
The meeting ended at 9:52. Lynda Zarrow