Solid Waste Advisory Commission

Athens-Clarke County Minutes of the Meeting of the Solid Waste Citizens Advisory Commission Wednesday, September 14, 2022 Present at Meeting: Commissioner Patrick Davenport, Michael Brugger, Taylor Maddalene-Myers, Matt DiPalma, Jared Harper, Starri Nowells, Jere Bowden, Abigail West, Stacee Farrell, Mason Towe, Joe Dunlop, Suki Janssen, and Susan Lyon (minutes). I. Welcome and Introductions Commissioner Davenport called meeting to order at 5:34 pm. II. Approval of Minutes: August 17, 2022 Taylor made a motion to approve minutes as presented; seconded by Michael, approved unanimously. I1I. Public Comments - None IV. Division Reports Printed copies available for members in attendance for review. New Solid Waste mechanic to begin work on Monday, The position has been vacant for over a year. New fees started on July 1, 2022. The department has received some complaints, with the most complaints about landfill fee increases and facility fee increases at the CHaRM. Susan will send additional UGA reports to members at a later date. V. Old Business  AAH – Clean-ups will start again in October. (See New Business)  By-Laws – New draft in member folders for review and discussion. SWAC cannot vote on proposed by-laws at this meeting. Must send suggested changes to the Attorney’s office for approval. All comments and suggestions from members should be reported via email to Susan by close of business on September 30, 2022. o Regularly Scheduled Meetings (Article IV.A) - recommend that wording be changed to read that a meeting can be called to order by two (2) SWAC members in the absence of the Chair. o Subcommittees (Article IV.F) – ACC Attorney recommends no sub-committees. Members in agreement. o Public Comments (Article III.D.) – ACC Attorney advises against public comments during meeting. Public comments will be received by email or phone call prior to or after a meeting. Susan to submit all public questions and comments via email to SWAC members. It should be made clear at the beginning of each meeting that no public comments will be received during meeting. Members are not to use personal emails on behalf of SWAC. An accgov.com email will be set up in the future for all members. o Term Limits (Article II.B) – No term limits are outlined in ordinance. o Conflict of Interest (Article V) – Attorney advises that the commission vote to determine if there is a conflict of interest. Members to review this section carefully. Suki to ask Attorney if a member who has a conflict of interest, can still be present in the meeting during the vote. Must have mechanism in place to ensure all conflict of interests are acknowledged publicly.  o Code of Conduct (Article V. A-I) Members to review carefully. o Mayor and Commission in discussion to amend BAC’s ordinances in order to pay members a stipend for each meeting.  Plastic Bags Resolution – More data is needed. All members are asked to use DebrisTracker app to report litter, including plastic bags around the community. Best to submit data and pictures on the app. VI. New Business  Franchising – Handout generated by staff in Member’s notebook. SWAC has been tasked by Mayor to make a recommendation on franchising. Members to review data presented in handout. A timeline will be established. Commissioner Davenport tabled further discussion until October. Susan to compile and forward data collected from private haulers on waste minimization fee quarterly report. Staff to pull data from last public meetings on the subject and survey results.  Future meetings (Section IV of By-Laws) – meet on the third Wednesday of each month from 5:30 – 6:30 pm at ACC Solid Waste Administration Office.  AAH - Recommend one per month until the entire section of the road has been cleaned. A minimum of 4 clean-ups a year is required. Susan to send out a Doodle Poll to select next date.  Susan to a Doddle poll to determine a date for a SWAC member tour of all Solid Waste facilities and operations. Potentially on a Saturday morning.  Jared made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Jere seconded; passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:04 pm. Respectfully submitted by Susan Lyon: 10.19.22