Richard Redmond

The board meeting commenced with the approval of the previous month's minutes. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to presenting the 2024 Recycling Champion award to UDA Creative Reuse, commending their efforts in diverting materials from the waste stream, organizing community events, and operating an art supply thrift store and maker space. The board then discussed and approved the proposed 2025 budget, which represented a million-dollar increase over the prior year. Following this, several supplemental appropriations and budget transfers were approved across various cost centers, including addressing increased costs for tire disposal due to volume and weather impacts, and reallocating funds for overtime, temporary labor, and insurance within the administration and operational budgets. Finally, the board awarded a three-year contract for the hauling of wastewater treatment plant byproducts, selecting Southwick Trucking, and renewed the contract for marketing and processing of processed paper recyclables with Waste Management.

The meeting agenda included the approval of the November 17th minutes. Key business involved honoring the Conklin Elementary School green team as the 2025 Recycling Champion for their extensive work in recycling, sustainability initiatives, and projects like upcycling wooden pallets. The board unanimously approved Resolution 25, which adopted the 2026 budget, rate schedule, and collection/disposal permit rules and regulations, following a public hearing where no comments were received. Resolution 26 addressed supplemental appropriations for tire disposal due to an increased volume of tires received, requiring an increase in both revenue and expense. The board also authorized the issuance of a draft Request for Proposal (RFP) under the 120W process for the five-year contract concerning the transportation of nonrecyclable sideways waste from transfer stations to the landfill. Finally, the board approved the renewal of a one-year professional service agreement with Trainer Associates for public relations, social media management, and website hosting, which includes introducing new video content.

This document outlines the adopted capital plan for the period of 2026 to 2030. It details projected expenditures across various departments and facilities, including the Recycling Center, Administration, Regional Landfill, Eastern and Western Transfer Stations, Green Waste Compost, Household Hazardous Waste, Source Separated Organics Waste/ETS, and Utica Waste Collection. The plan covers investments in equipment, infrastructure repairs, upgrades, and new construction projects.

The session commenced with the approval of the minutes from the September 20th meeting. A public hearing was held regarding the proposed 2022 budget. Key budget discussions included implementing the sixth tip fee reduction in ten years, setting MSW and sludge tipping fees at $60 per ton, and maintaining a zero tip fee for residential recyclables for the 31st consecutive year. Details on tonnage projections were provided, noting the highest MSW tonnage in five years but a reduction in ADC and cover tonnage due to the winding down of large demolition projects. Revenue projections indicated a strong rebound in recycling commodity sales, particularly plastic and cardboard. Discussions on landfill gas addressed holding the revenue projection based on the existing two-engine contract with WMRE, while planning to seek authorization in December to release an RFP for advanced gas utilization methods that could capture RIN subsidies. Expense breakdowns showed anticipated increases, especially for the recycling center due to capital purchases like a new scale deck, loader, and forklift, and for the administration division due to server replacement.

The meeting included the approval of the September 18th minutes. A public hearing was called to order for the proposed 2024 budget, which included maintaining current tipping fees for MSW at $60 a ton for the third consecutive year, and keeping source separated Organics at $40. The budget presentation covered revenue projections, noting the largest revenue block remains tipping fees, but diversification is ongoing. Key revenue discussion points included conservatively estimating $1.8 million from the sale of recyclables due to market softening, and projecting $800,000 from carbon credits related to landfill gas work. Significant changes in revenue projections are tied to the transition involving WM Renewable Energy and the construction of an RNG facility, which is expected to halve landfill gas revenue. Expenditure discussions highlighted proposed increases due to inflation and health insurance rates (12.5% increase expected from the County health plan). Capital planning involved a proposed $7.41 million budget, focusing on cycling critical equipment like loaders and compactors every five years, and funding landfill liner expansion reserves.