MARCH 17, 2010
** NOT APPROVED **
Members Present: D. Fanton, M. Healy, A. McGraw, C.
Crandall
Others Present: M. Alger, P. Curran, A. Finnemore, T.
Hopkins, K. LaForge (Consultant), D. Pullen, F. Sinclair
Call to Order: 9:06 a.m. by Committee Chairman Dwight
Fanton
Landfill User Fee Options:
Committee Chairman Dwight Fanton distributed information
on other counties’ landfill charges assembled by Public Works Deputy
Superintendent John Mancuso (copy attached to original minutes). Information was received from the Counties of
Cattaraugus, Steuben, Chemung, Chautauqua,
Discussion was held on the punch card/bag fee system
versus a dual fee system. Committee
members have heard public comments in opposition to a punch card system. It was pointed out that we’ll soon reach a
point of reckoning (when the landfill closes), and it’s just a matter of how
soon we want to get people prepared for the higher costs. We have to come up with something equitable
for volume and usage, even though it may not be popular, and a decision needs
to be made on whether to continue to subsidize waste management through the
general fund. Concern was expressed that
higher disposal fees will result in increased burning and trash being thrown in
ditches, but the bag fee will also force people to recycle more. There was discussion on what a fair per bag
fee would be and what the true cost per bag is for the County. Mr. Mancuso will be asked to put together
some tonnage information, and calculate how many bags it would take to generate
that tonnage, in order to arrive at a bag fee.
Mr. Mancuso will also be asked to gather information on how much the general
fund subsidy for the landfill is currently.
Referred to John Mancuso.
Chairman Crandall commented that we have to get the solid
waste system to the point where it’s self-supporting, and that will be a tough
sell. When it began, the landfill was totally
funded through the general fund, and people will ask why they have to pay now
when they already bought and paid for it, but it’s the on-going expenses,
maintenance, and closure costs we need funds to support. If the County is going to continue to be
responsible to dispose of the garbage we collect after the landfill closure, we
have to look at all options for waste management in other facilities.
Tour of Other Counties’ Landfills:
Committee members expressed an interest in visiting other
counties’ landfills. This will offer the
opportunity to get more detail on fee systems, costs, operations, and ideas on
how to set up recycling, etc. Referred
to John Mancuso to arrange tour.
Next Meeting: Tour of other landfills – date to be announced.
Adjournment: The
meeting was adjourned at 9:50 a.m. following a motion made by Legislator McGraw,
seconded by Legislator Healy and carried.
Respectfully submitted by
Adele Finnemore, Deputy Clerk
of the Board