City Council

CITY OF LACONIA - CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING Public Works Committee 3:30 P.M. 6/23/2021 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Haynes called the meeting to order at the above date and time. 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Soucy lead the Salute to the Flag. 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Cheryl Hebert, City Clerk 4. ROLL CALL City Clerk Hebert took a roll call vote with the following Committee members in attendance: Councilor Haynes, Councilor Soucy, and Councilor Felch Chairman Haynes noted all three members of the Committee are present and a quorum has been established. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Scott Myers, City Manager Glenn Smith, Finance Director 6. PUBLIC WORKS (Haynes (Chair), Felch, Soucy) 6.A. Discussion for converting from a manual to an automated solid waste curbside collection service Department of Public Works Director, Wes Anderson presented to the Committee. A document titled Solid Waste Discussion Sheet, dated June 23, 2021 was submitted as part of the record. DPW Director Anderson explained that the annual cost of manual collection as of October 1, 2021 is $664,688 and Casella's proposal for automated collection as of October 1, 2022 would be $760,000. This is a 14.2% increase. The recycling processing fee before earnings from October 1, 2020 was $106 per ton and as of October 1, 2022 will be $137 per ton. The proposal for automated recycling would remain the same as October 2022. Director Anderson explained the four line items in the budget that would be affected. They are: Collection - Trash, Collection - Recycling & Processing, Transfer Station - Trash to the incinerator, and Incinerator. The incinerator contract expires December 31, 2022. The incinerator is the biggest of the four lines. Director Anderson said eliminating the second day of service in the Weirs area there would be minimal to no impact on the cost of collection. The revenue impact is roughly about a $7,000 increase annual. Another option with minimal to no impact on the cost of collection would be eliminating collection of cans from the end of private roads. The revenue impact is about $11,000 annually. Director Anderson stated the biggest savings he could find would come from eliminating the collection of trash and recycling from businesses and apartments/condos with over three units. The Director Anderson said eliminating the second day of service in the Weirs area there would be minimal to no impact on the cost of collection. The revenue impact is roughly about a $7,000 increase annual. Another option with minimal to no impact on the cost of collection would be eliminating collection of cans from the end of private roads. The revenue impact is about $11,000 annually. Director Anderson stated the biggest savings he could find would come from eliminating the collection of trash and recycling from businesses and apartments/condos with over three units. The majority of impact is due to the increase in revenue associated with the fees generated by more commercial trash being brought to the transfer station. The estimated increase in revenue is $180,000 for the first year. Director Anderson also explained if the City took away the manual collection of the parks/beaches/downtown area and the 12 streets from Casella, it would save about $195,000. But the problem would be who would perform those functions? In-house or hire out? Director Anderson stated that Belmont's contract with Casella expires in December of 2022. Laconia could see if Belmont would like to work together and do a joint contract. The benefit is amortization of a recycling truck and any spare trucks. (about $40,000/year savings). Casella already synchronizes Belmont's recycling calendar with Laconia. Another option is the pay as you throw system. The fee would be can based rather than bag based. A decision would need to be made by the end of 2021 if we wanted to include Belmont. Councilor Felch asked what the change would be if we went with automated trash and manual recycle? Director Anderson said there would still be a cost associated with manual collection and as of right now he does not have those numbers. The only two business that submitted a bid was Casella and Waste Management. Historically Waste Management has been more expensive. Director Anderson also explained that the cost of drivers and workers compensation is extremely high for manual collection. This is the fifth occupation-prone injury or death. City Manager Myers explained if we went to an automated system, if your recycling does not fit into the toter, it wouldn't be picked up. It would need to be brought to the recycling center by the owner. He also explained as of right now, if you have trash that is not in a container, it will not be picked up. A letter is sent out to the owner, the owner can rectify the situation or call the City Manager to discuss a plan of action. If it is still not taken care of, then a fine would be imposed. Councilor Haynes asked how much it would cost to get the containers if we go automated? City Manager Myers explained it would be about $600,000 to $700,000, a one-time cost. This amount would be bonded. The containers would stay with the property. Councilor Haynes also asked if we stay with what we have now, where would the money come from? City Manager Myers explained the increases would be added incrementally. City Manager Myers suggested to begin talks with the Town of Belmont to see if they would be interested in doing a joint contract. He also suggested that DPW Anderson talk with Casella about removing the pick up of the City parks and beaches and downtown containers as well as the narrow streets from the contract and the City would hire a person to take care of those. If this saves the City about $200,000, that would allow the hire of a new person and a small dump truck. A discussion was had regarding how many cans are picked up at businesses and apartment buildings per map/lot. We do pick up unlimited recycling. City Manager Myers stated that to eliminate the second stop in the Weirs area and the private roads that bring their containers to a public road, the savings is not worth the issues that could come along with it.  buildings per map/lot. We do pick up unlimited recycling. City Manager Myers stated that to eliminate the second stop in the Weirs area and the private roads that bring their containers to a public road, the savings is not worth the issues that could come along with it. A discussion was had about the incinerator contract. Director Anderson stated there has been a lot of work done to it and it is expected to be around for the next five to ten years. Right now Gilford and Laconia bring demolition to the transfer station. We make money on demolition debris, so we may want to look into opening it up to other communities. Councilor Soucy asked why we haven't gone to pay as you throw? Councilor Haynes stated it is because the mentality is "I pay taxes." City Manager Myers explained how the pay as you throw program works in Dover. It is comparable to paying a utility. The more you throw the more it costs. Councilor Felch would like us to advertise the bulky stickers and extra barrel stickers again for those that may not know about them. The Committee is in agreement to begin the discussion with Belmont regarding a joint contract for automation and to see what the savings would be with Casella by not having them pick up from the narrow streets, beaches, parks, and City trash receptacles within the downtown area and how soon we could start that. 7. Any other business that may come before the Committee 8. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the Committee and hearing no objection, Chairman Haynes adjourned the meeting at 4:25 pm. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl Hebert, City Clerk