Gary Hobbs

The Board of Supervisors meeting included the approval of the agenda and a public comment period. Financial reports for December 2025 were presented, detailing general fund performance, tonnage statistics for MSW & C&D, transaction volumes, and details on tire and food waste hauling. An update was provided regarding the resolution of a necessary FICA tax correction concerning ER contributions to the Governmental 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan for calendar years 2023, 2024, and 2025. A public hearing was held concerning a minor amendment to the 2025 Solid Waste Implementation Plan (SWIP) to upgrade the Town of Lincoln Transfer Station and Recycling Center to a full-certification facility, which was subsequently adopted. New business items involved approving price quotes for the purchase of a new compact wheel loader and a quick attach salt/sand spreader for the loader. The Board also approved a three-year contract with New England Quality Services, dba Earth Waste and Metal (EWM), for scrap metal recycling services. The District Manager reported on various regulatory updates from the VT DEC concerning Hazardous Waste Management, Solid Waste Rules, Bottle Bill EPR program revisions, and waste tire management. The Programs Report covered exploration of alternative vendors for book recycling, the transition in the battery EPR program to the "OneDrum" system under The Battery Network, updates on the E-Waste and pesticide disposal grants, tours of waste processing facilities, and the application for SWIP grant funding.

The agenda for the Executive Board Meeting includes Manager Reports covering personnel, health & safety, and general/legislative updates. Financial Reports for December 2025, including the general financial report and the single stream recycling report, will be reviewed. New Business items involve reviewing Sourcewell price quotes for a new Compact Wheel Loader, reviewing price quotes for a Quick Attach Salt/Sand Spreader, approving a draft contract with New England Quality Service (dba Earth Waste and Metal) for scrap metal recycling services, and approving a minor amendment to the adopted 2025 Solid Waste Implementation Plan. The meeting also scheduled an Executive Session for matters concerning appointment, employment, or evaluation of a public officer or employee, and planned for discussion of agenda items for the February 19 Board of Supervisors Meeting.

The Executive Board meeting covered agenda approval and the approval of the January 7, 2026 minutes. Manager reports included handling a potentially rabid skunk and dealing with broken equipment stabilizers, necessitating temporary rentals. Legislative updates focused on proposed changes to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws concerning fire extinguishers and waste tires, and revisions to the Vermont Bottle Bill. Financial reports detailed the December 2025 financials, including tonnage data for MSW & C&D, recycling, and food waste, along with a resolution for a FICA tax correction issue for prior years. New Business included recommending the purchase of a John Deere compact wheel loader, recommending the purchase of a new salt/sander spreader, and recommending approval of a three-year contract with Earth Waste and Metal for scrap metal recycling. The Board also recommended approval of a minor amendment to the Solid Waste Implementation Plan (SWIP) to change the Town of Lincoln drop-off certification status. The meeting concluded with an executive session and acceptance of paid invoices.

The Policy Committee meeting included the election of the Chair and Clerk. Key discussions focused on the process for reviewing and editing District policies over the next 12 months, agreeing to review two policies per meeting using SharePoint for collaborative editing with track changes. The committee established a schedule for regular monthly meetings, aiming for the last Friday of each month at 1 PM, with the next meeting scheduled for February 27th to address the Executive Board Policy and Purchasing Policy.

The meeting included approval of the agenda, with the addition of the NCER Contract Renewal to New Business. Manager reports covered preparations for the fourth quarter ReTrac reports, planning for the 2026 Repair Fair, newsletter preparation, data collection for the 2026 waste diversion calculation, completion of the 2025 Tier II report, and applications for SWIP and VLCT PACIF grants. Financial reports for November 2025 detailed tonnage and transaction volumes for MSW & C&D materials, tire hauling, and food waste composting, along with single stream recycling figures showing a pre-OH gross profit. New business involved approving the payment for a FICA tax correction across CY2023-2025 pending IRS agreement, transferring ownership of scrap metal trailers to Earth Waste and Metal in exchange for the provision of roadworthy replacements under a new 3-year contract, appointing four members to the Policy Committee, and discussing the process for the District Manager's annual performance evaluation, including the use of self-evaluation. The Board also approved the six-month renewal of the NCER contract to align with state recycling contractor bidding processes. Finally, the January 15, 2026, Board of Supervisors meeting was cancelled, and November 2025 invoices were accepted.