HomeMy WebLinkAboutTrash/Recycling Comm. 8/3/20Trash & Recycling Task Force Ad Hoc Committee
August 3, 2020 Virtual Meeting i G E
MEETING MINUTES i N _ P,
MEMBERS PRESENT: Lee Azinheira, DPW Director
Mike Ahern, Public Buildings/Special Projects Manager
Steve Schoonveld, Select Board Member
Neil Rhein, Select Board Clerk
Graham Wilson, Board of Health
Kevin Dumas, Town Manager
MEMBERS NOT PRESENT: Kathy Aguiar, Finance Committee
Christina Collins, DPW Office Manager
Amy Donovan -Palmer, Health Agent
1. Call to Order — Reading of virtual meeting law —
2. Recycling Center Field Trip Follow-up
Mike gives an overview of the field trip to the Franklin, Norfolk and North Attleboro Recycle
Centers
Norfolk is a large transfer and recycle station;
Franklin is in the process of updating and rebuilding their current recycle park; they have about
60 to 70 people on the days that they are open;
North Attleboro is a well -run center; they also collect construction debris; and have a lot of
different charges for different things;
Norfolk again is a very well -run facility, but also serves as the only place to dispose of household
trash whereas they don't have any curbside pick-up in town;
Mansfield overall functions well for the budget and the staff; the weekend of the field trip the
following numbers visited the Green:
7-25-20 about 380 people
7-27-20 about 140 people
7-28-20 about 45 people
8-01-20 about 391 people
Mike feels that these numbers most likely double into the fall and winter months
One common item noticed is that Mansfield isn't charging enough for certain items such as
electronics, white goods etc. and this needs to be looked at closely to get us in line with what
other communities are doing and what the true costs are for the proper disposal
Neil wants to go after some low hanging fruit and maybe change -up the hours at the Recycle
Park to try and see if more people will use it and to make Saturdays less crowded; Mike
definitely agrees and suggests Saturday and Sundays 8 to 3:45 and Mondays 8 to noon.
Would like to make this recommendation as soon as possible and get the process started; maybe
an agenda item for the next meeting.
3. Discussion of Metrics and Goals
4. Establish & Editing Project File
Lower cost today and future and become more trash and recycle responsible as a town;
Good Assets right now — Steve will summarize the positives and add to the project list;
Mansfield has a well trafficked Mansfield Green;
Contract for solid waste disposal with Wheelabrator through Julyl 2027; predictable for 7 years;
Basic curbside pick-up system is generally problem free; except contamination but otherwise
runs well;
Simple Recycling is a great success in Mansfield;
Costs presently in place on curbside trash pick-up and recycling for FY21 and FY22; which are
reasonable, thin a contract extension with Waste Management;
Reasonably clean recycling; room for improvement but not bad;
Black Earth Compost service;
Christmas Tree pick-up after Christmas;
Pending Projects —
Revise Mansfield Green hours; policy decision; overwhelming questions as to why we are not
open Sunday; reduce overtime in fall four to six weeks when we are open on Sundays to take
leaves it will now be standard operations; need to look at costs of what we take in specifically
televisions and monitors; some other towns go by the weight of television/monitor;
Would like to keep the pricing issue separate from the hours change at the Green so that it
doesn't get held up;
Maybe change the hours on November I" when the Green is already open on Sundays for
compost drop off,
Options beyond the FY22 Waste Management contract; Lee would like to make a decision on a
contract for a trash hauler before June of 2021; would like decision prior to May Town Meeting;
more importantly, the Town needs to decide on what services we would like first; Mike strongly
suggests doing a RFP with prequalification process for vendors that would be similar to what is
done for large construction projects. Vendors would need to have financials to back-up the
services; bonding ability and experience with municipal contracts as a start. Suggest limiting
bidding pool to prequalified vendors; different contract for municipal buildings smaller vendor
may be more cost-effective than what we presently have as the school found out with a new
vendor; We then have to decide what the three options will be and then get prices for each;
contract may be multiple vendors such as curbside trash and recycling and maybe a separate
contract for municipal buildings.
5. Items Not Known 48 hours prior to meeting
None
6. Next Meeting -
August 24, 2020 for next meeting; would like Republic for 30 minutes next meeting; then maybe
have public input the following meeting?
7. Adjournment
Motion from Graham; Neil seconds motion to adjourn; motion to adjourn passes 4-0
Respectfully Submitted
Christina Collins
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Signature of Commission Clerk Date of Acceptance
Trash & Recycling Task Force Ad Hoc Committee
July 13, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting
MEETING MINUTES I C E
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MEMBERS PRESENT: .A I o
Kathy Aguiar, Finance Committee
Lee Azinheira, DPW Director
Christina Collins, DPW Office Manager -
Mike Ahern, Public Buildings/Special Projects Manager
Steve Schoonveld, Select Board Member
Neil Rhein, Select Board Clerk
Graham Wilson, Board of Health
Amy Donovan -Palmer, Health Agent
MEMBERS NOT PRESENT: Kevin Dumas, Town Manager
1. Call to Order —
2. Reorganization of Committee Officers
Due to the new fiscal year, nominations for a new Committee Chair are presented. Neil
nominates Mr. Schoonveld to be the chair; Mike Ahern seconds the nomination. Discussion
ensues about Mr. Schoonveld being chair with Lee helping out and they will work together.
Vote is taken and is unanimous Mr. Schoonveld will become Committee Chair.
Neil Rhein will remain as Vice Chair; Christina Collins will become Clerk
Mr. Schoonveld acknowledges residents are very important and wants to include residents at
every meeting and will take their questions or comments. Lee did talk to a resident before this
meeting and will discuss that issue later in the meeting.
Mr. Schoonveld wants to refocus and narrow it down to two major goals:
Lower costs of trash and recycling today and in future; and
Become more trash and recycling responsible as a community
Mr. Schoonveld feels the Committee has had a lot of great discussions but lost opportunities
In depth discussion about how to move forward with all the information and how to keep
residents in the loop; will create a working spreadsheet to keep track of all information and set
goals and will keep everything organized and on track; Lee would like to see discussions of the
curbside program separate for the discussions about the condominiums/apartments/businesses;
would like to stay focused on the curbside aspect, the updating of the Mansfield Green and
possibly update the 25 year old curbside and recycling by-laws