Town of Hanson - Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes – Hanson Town Hall
March 3, 2015
Members Present: Donald Howard, James McGahan Kenny Mitchell, William Scott & Bruce Young
Members Absent:
Others Present: Town Administrator Ronald San Angelo
Executive Assistant Meredith Marini
7:00 p.m. Chairman Young called the meeting to order, led the Pledge Allegiance.
II TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Mr. San Angelo reported that Old Colony Planning will be conducting a forum at the Whitman Hanson Regional High School relative to the reuse of the Plymouth County Hospital site on Thursday, March 5th.
Mr. San Angelo indicated that the area Town Administrators discussed the snow and ice costs. They are putting together a chart that compares budgets to actual costs. He noted that Hanson appropriated $177,000 and has expended $477,050 through February 28th.
III NEW BUSINESS
Board of Health update on Pay As You Throw Program – Board of Health members Terry McSweeney, Gil Amado and Richard Edgehille were present along with Health Agent Donna Tramontana, Administrative Assistant Theresa Cocio, Disposal Area Attendant Chris Callahan and DEP recycling coordinator Janine Delaney to provide an update on Pay-As-You-Throw.
Mr. San Angelo thanked everyone for coming. He thanked Ms. Delaney for preparing the presentation.
He noted the point was to transfer the cost of the facility to the residents who use it. He reported that they have met all the goals in the first six month. He reported that in 2013 Hanson generated 1500 to 1750 pounds of trash per household. The amount has been reduced to 807 pounds per household.
He reviewed the timeline of implementing Pay-As-You-Through which started in February 2014 when the Board approved PAYT and signed an agreement with WasteZero. In July 2014 PAYT and single stream recycling was implemented. November 2014 a contract with ABC commenced for recyclables and hauling. Effective January 2015 the contract with New Bedford Waste Disposal began which included the increased tipping fee.
Mr. San Angelo noted that the $34.50 per ton tipping fee, which the Town contracted for several years was scheduled to expire and the proposed rates were over $60.00 per ton. He was able to negotiate a new rate with New Bedford for $55.00 per ton. He noted that there is no tipping fee for the recyclables.
Mr. San Angelo explained that the bags which come in two sizes, 15 gallon and 30 gallon, are available at 12 locations around town. Most of the sales (64%) are for the 30 gallon bags with 36% of sales for the 15 gallon bags.
Chairman Young pointed out that the bags are a high theft item and are generally behind the counter at most stores.
Mr. San Angelo reviewed the private hauler subscriptions noting that 677 residents have contracted with private haulers. He feels there may have been a shifting of customers from Thompson Waste to Republic. Chris Callahan believes that several residents may be returning to the Transfer Station and cancelling their contracts with private haulers.
Ms. Delaney explained that prior to PAYT Hanson may have had 300 residents with private haulers, but they don’t have the exact number.
Mr. San Angelo indicated that tonnage from July to December dropped from 1,414 tons in 2013 to 515 tons in 2014. He noted that several non-residents and contractors were using the Transfer Station. Requiring new stickers have helped reduce the tonnage. Recycling has increased by 15%. Chairman Young noted that the ease of recycling most likely has added to the increase.
Ms. Cocio indicated that after an initial negative attitude toward PAYT, residents are responding positively to the change.
The Town has saved $13,017 in the last six month. The tipping fees have fallen but will start to rise now that the new contract with the $55.00 fee went into effect on January 1st. The Town has managed to keep the fees down by bundling the services for hauling and tipping fees. Revenue received to date is $107,276 which is as expected.
Mr. San Angelo explained the administrative fees are paid to WasteZero. WasteZero provides the bags and distributes them to the stores and handles the accounts. The stores buy the bags from WasteZero and WasteZero bills the stores.
Mr. San Angelo reviewed the net impact of PAYT which was $146,349, which is comprised of $107,276 in bag revenues, $26,056 in disposal fee savings and $13,017 in hauling savings.
The projected annual cost for FY15 is $75,595. He indicated without PAYT disposal would cost $173,974.
Mr. San Angelo indicated the goal is to make the Transfer Station self sufficient. The reduction in tonnage is incredible and he feels the program is a success. He thanked the Board of Health, its staff and the Transfer Station staff for their support.
Mr. McGahan asked if the Town knows what the haulers tonnage is per household. Ms. Cocio explained that the haulers do not work exclusively in Hanson and it is difficult to ascertain.
Discussion regarding hauling regulations and implements when haulers don’t comply by separating recyclables. Haulers must provide means of recyclable.
Mr. McSweeney has no problem modifying the regulation but doesn’t feel requiring more reporting by the haulers is going to be the answer as there was push back.
Mr. McGahan feels he pointed this out in July that the regulation could not be enforced. Board of Health could get enforcement agents.
Ms. Delaney noted that DEP has several different hauler regulations and not all regulations throughout the state are exact. DEP provides templates to the communities. The State wants to have bundled services and to have the haulers follow the same services as the communities.
Mr. McGahan is unhappy that Board of Health did not get the data from the hauler.
Gil Amado thanked everyone for their work on the presentation.
IV OLD BUSINESS
Clarification of voted Re: Statement of Interest Maquan School MSBA –
Chairman Young feels that Maquan School should be included in the motion for the SOI made at the last meeting.
MOTION by Scott, second by McGahan that the Town of Hanson is interested in participating in a SOI submission for FY2015 MSBA for a Maquan Solution. Voted 5 – 0
V COMMITTEE REPORTS
Monponsett Pond Committee – Halifax reported that they will move forward with treatment to the Monponsett Pond starting in April with a timeline through December. Brockton still has not taken water. Hanson will reimburse Halifax after Town Meeting approves that funding. Other meetings have been cancelled due to weather.
Indian Head & Maquan Priority Repair Comm. – Mr. Young reported that the committee reviewed problems with leaking roof in gym, windows at Maquan School. They met with the Indian Head Building Committee and Ernie Sandland is getting estimates. The Design engineer will be approved by a joint meeting with the School Committee on Wednesday,
March 11th.
Chairman Young reported that the Indian Head Repair Committee (intermunicipal agreement) voted to approve the Proposal from Gale Engineering was $112,000.00
WHRDS Capital Repairs & Facilities Committee – Mr. McGahan indicated the committee has not met since January. He is working with Ernie Sandland to get numbers for Maquan Windows and repairs to gym roof and cafeteria. Mr. San Angelo indicated the committee needs to draft articles for the warrant.
Mr. San Angelo reported that he has been discussing the funding options for the various repairs at the Maquan school, computers and possible the library/senior center roof replacement via a debt exclusion or borrowing. He noted that snow removal is cutting into the costs of capital items.
Lite Control Acquisition Review Comm. – Mr. Scott reported that they met on Monday, March 2nd. Mr. Brandan Fagan met with the Mr. Scott, Mr. Mitchell and Mrs. Arena to tour the facility. The time element is very important. Lite Control would like to have an answer by
April 1, 2015. There was discussion regarding set back. Mr. Fagan was concerned of the storage of salt on the property, environmental impact on turtles. Lite Control has addressed that issue. May suggest an independent engineer review the site for the town. There are a number of stumbling blocks that need to be addressed. There are a lot of unanswered questions.
Mr. Fagan is meeting with Conservation to address the demolition of the property.
Mr. Young reminded the viewers that there is an Open Forum regarding the Feasiblity Study of the reuse of the Plymouth County Hospital is Thursday, March 5th
VI ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Howard, second Mitchell to adjourn. Voted 5 – 0
8:46 p.m. meeting adjourned
Respectfully submitted,
Meredith Marini,
Executive Assistant
Approved and Voted 5 – 0
September 15, 2015
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