Vassalboro Select Board
Minutes of the Meeting
November 6, 2014

Members Present: Rob Browne, Lauchlin Titus, and Phil Haines

Others Present: Mary Sabins, Mary Grow, Jim Dunning, Tom Richards, George Hamar, Tom O’Rourke, Matt Bolster and his wife.

1. Call to order – The meeting was called to order by Chairman Haines at 6:59 p.m.

2. Minutes – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the 10/23/14 meeting as written.

3. Solid Waste Hauling bids – Sabins gave an overview of the bid summary spreadsheet. Of the four bids received, Mike Bolster of Bolster’s Rubbish Removal was the low bidder at $225.00 per haul for municipal solid waste (MSW) to PERC in Orrington, and Pine Tree Waste (Casella) was the low bidder of the bulky waste at $115 per haul to Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town at a disposal rate of $65.00 per ton. Pine Tree also offered a four year contract with an annual CPI-U increase, estimated to be 2-3%. After discussion, and on a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to award the MSW contract to Mike Bolster for $225 per haul; and the Bulky waste contract to Pine Tree Waste for four years at a price of $115 per haul at a disposal rate of $65.00 per ton with the annual CPI-U increase as proposed. Discussion was also given with Jim Dunning, Representative of Pine Tree Waste, about the current zero-sort program provided by Pine Tree Waste, and Matt Bolster offered that his father’s company will offer zero-sort in the future. With tonight’s contract award and the Board’s recent decision to renew the zero-sort contract for an additional four years, the Bulky Waste and Recycling contracts are all set until 2018, when our MSW disposal contract with PERC will come to an end.

4. Pay-per-bag System – Transfer Station Manager George Hamar and Transfer Station Attendant Tom O’Rourke shared their ideas about how to promote and encourage more people to recycle. They described how they pull as many recyclables out of the MSW hopper as they can, and wish it wasn’t necessary. They wish people would recycle on their own. George and Tom know, and Jim Dunning confirmed, that a mandatory pay-per-bag system would encourage more people to recycle, because disposal of recyclable material would be free and the remaining material would need to be disposed of in a purchased bag. George stated that, at this point, the Transfer Station facility cannot accommodate a large influx of more recyclables, so he is not ready to request implementation of a pay-per-bag system at this time. Another compactor is needed at the Transfer Station to compact the recyclables. Sabins stated that a request for bids for engineering services to prepare a concept design to include a new trash compactor at our transfer station has been prepared and will be mailed to engineering services soon. Jim Dunning suggested the best time to consider a switch over to a pay-per-bag program is at budget preparation time when pressures for funding town programs is being considered. The pay-per-bag program generates revenue from bag sales, and decreases amounts needing to be raised from taxation. L. Titus also suggested that an incentive program could be initiated where one free trash bag could be given for every full bag of recyclables received. If no recyclables are received, the bag fee will apply. No formal Board action taken on this agenda item at this time.

5. Cast ballot for MRC Director – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to vote for Ken Fletcher of Winslow for the MRC Director position.

6. Treasurer’s Disbursement Warrant for Employee Wages and Benefits – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to renew this annual policy that will allow one Selectmen (rather than a majority) to sign the payroll warrant so that direct deposit can be processed in a timely manner.

7. Reports – a. Road Report - On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the report as presented. b. First Responders Report - On a motion made by R. Browne, seconded by L. Titus, the Board voted unanimously to accept the report as presented. c. Police Report - On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the report as presented.

8. Treasurer’s Warrants – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to approve warrants #31 and #32.

9. Other – 1. On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to cast a ballot for Neal Caverly to serve on the Farm Service Agency Committee. 2. The Board reviewed bid specifications for engineering services at the Transfer Station and made suggestions for improvements. 3. The Board reviewed the draft contract extension for four years for the zero-sort program with Pine Tree Waste. 4. The Board set December 13th at 4 p.m. as the date and time for the employee’s Christmas Party. The Transfer Station will close at 3:30 that day to allow the staff time to attend.

10. Adjourn – There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:34 p.m.

/mss

These minutes were read and accepted by the Select Board on 12/4/14 with the following amendments: None.