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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-03-26 Solid Waste Advisory Committee MinutesReading Solid Waste Advisory Committee Minutes of Meeting on March 26, 1991 Conference Room - Town Hail 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:35 PM by Anne Mark, Chairperson. Committee members in attendance were: Carol Edwards, Sally Sabo and Steve Thomases. Also in attandance were Ted McIntire, DPW Liason and Debbie McCauley. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS Postponed until next regular meeting scheduled for April 9, 1991. 3. DISCUSSION OF TRASH FEE OPTIONS The following documents were distributed to attendees: o DPW "Solid Waste : Trash Fee Proposal - March 25, 1991" o "Possible Plan for 'Split' Fee Structure..26 March 1991" o Trash Bag/Container Average Weight memo: Steve Thomases to Solid Waste Committee, 21 March 1991 The purpose of the meeting was to review DPW estimates of operational costs for a flat fee system and for a sticker system; to list advantages and disadvantages of the two systems; and to determine the form of advice to be given to the Board of Selectmen from the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Ted reviewed the DPW memo (noting the typographical error under Fee Options Available in which the fifth option: "Owner contracts with collector" should have started on a separate line). The following points were mentioned and/or discussed: o Gloucester had a flat rate prior.to 1,991 and collected more than their target. o + 90% collection experience in both Gloucester and Chelmsford. o Enforcement by lein (would require a Bylaw change in Reading) or stopping trash collection. o Wakefield has full-time "Trash Police." Chelmsford has none. o Education prior to implementation is a very important element. o Flat rate would have no additional administrative costs. Billing would probably be a separate bill mailed with the water/sewer bill. Payment might also have to be separate to comply with enterprise fund accounting of the water/sewer payments. o The one year "sunset" provision included by the Selectmen would require a reassessment in one year. This might respond to the short time available this year to come up with a workable system. o The Selectmen want the pro's and con's of the systems, not a recommendation. Steve reviewed the "Possible Plan.." handout showing how half the necessary revenue could be generated by a flat fee and half by a pay-for-use sticker system. A discussion of the pro's and con's of the flat rate and the sticker systems followed. Flat Rate: No incentives. Inequitable: fees don't reflect useage. No customer control over his/her costs. No way to control excessive trash. Problems may arise with State mandated removal of items from waste stream. Easy to explain. Easy to handle abatements. Easy to implement and integrate into existing billing system. Provides predictable and stable source of revenue. Sticker: More equitable. Understood and accepted system in many other jurisdictions. Anne pointed out that the Seattle Report had a comprehensive listing of advantages and disadvantages of the `various systems, and that she would refer to that report in her report to the Selectmen (which would immediately follow this meeting in the Board of Selectmen's meeting room). It was suggested as an alternative to a "per household" flat fee, that there could be a'"per person" fee to betterconform fee to expected useage. The town census would provide the necessary data. DPW has projected a $100,000 reduction in trash costs in 1991 due to the economic situation. All towns are experiencing this kind of fall off. A standard bag system, as was implemented in Reading in 1971-78 with the incinerator operation, was found to have many problems and is not recommended by DPW. It was moved by Sally, and voted that Anne Mark assist the Selectmen by -,pointing out the pro's and con's of the two systems, and, at the appropriate time in the Selectmen's meeting, let the Selectmen know that the Solid Waste 'Advisory Committee would like them to adopt a system which encourages recycling and promotes trash reduction. Carol pointed out the need for a strict anti-litter regulation to reduce the iiklihood of illegal dumping. Anne said that the Committee will soon need to identify changes required in the Rubbish.Collection Rules and Regulations ("Trash Regulations"), consistent with any fee which might be adopted, and to achieve the objectives of the Committee. Ted emphasized the need for exploration of a lien provision in connection with the right of any household to decline participation in a fee system. 4. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:08 PM. (Anne, Sally and Steve then attended the Board of Selectmen's meeting already in progress.)