City Council

Minutes of this meeting were approved by City Council 's Public Works Committee on April 28, 2022. CITY OF LACONIA - CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING Public Works Committee 4:00 P.M. 1/20/2022 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Haynes called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Acting City Clerk Stacy Anders 4. ROLL CALL Acting City Clerk Anders 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 were present and a quorum has been established. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE City Manager Scott Myers, Finance Director Glenn Smith 6. PUBLIC WORKS (Haynes (Chair), Felch, Soucy) 6.A. Discussion of Solid Waste Options Department of Public Works Director, Wes Anderson presented the solid waste cost impacts to the Committee. DPW Director Anderson went over the budgetary impact and decisions. The fiscal year expenses are expected to increase by $320,000. Decisions that would need to be made are whether or not to convert to automated collection, solid waste fee increases and possible changes to the system. Currently waste is taken to Penacook for burning as in the contract with the Co-op. Market forces are labor shortages, inflation and commodity. Landfill and incineration space is getting limited. The Win Waste incinerator in Penacook has recently been turning away customers. Casella’s hauling to Bethlehem is expected to be full by 2026. A possibility is to use haul to Rochester which is expected to expand shortly. Some places in Massachusetts are closing and have been looking in NH. DPW Director Anderson went over the contracts. The curbside collection contract expires October 1, 2022 and only one bidder has been submitted for the next contract. The contract for where the trash is taken and incinerated expires December 31, 2022 and the Waste Management contract for the transfer station will expire May 20, 2027. DPW Director Anderson went over the City’s trash collection and demotion disposal system and how it works. City Manger Myers added that the City accepts commercial trash from Gilford as a courtesy but the City is not obligated to keep doing so.  is taken and incinerated expires December 31, 2022 and the Waste Management contract for the transfer station will expire May 20, 2027. DPW Director Anderson went over the City’s trash collection and demotion disposal system and how it works. City Manger Myers added that the City accepts commercial trash from Gilford as a courtesy but the City is not obligated to keep doing so. DPW Director Anderson went over the recycling system with Casella. The cost is monthly and ACR (transportation plus sorting minus any rebates). Currently the cost is $50 a ton. Councilor Felch asked about how the glass has affected the recycling and City Manger Myers noted that they would know by the end of the month. He also noted that the City is not losing any money yet but getting close to breaking even. DPW Director Anderson went over the recycling process fees per month and possible changes in tire prices. He noted that this is only for home mechanics and not commercial tires. The predictions on cost of hauling and disposing of trash is expected to rise every year and DPW Anderson discussed other possible locations and hauling methods. For curbside pickup with recycling each single family currently is allowed two 30 gallon containers, businesses are allowed seven 30 gallon containers and apartment and condos over 3 units. The proposed change is to allow single families one 64 gallon container. Up for discussion is to allow businesses and apartments and condos over 3 units four 64 gallon containers or none at all. If the City gets the recycling grant the containers would be free. Options for consideration are to change the trash disposal site, raise the fees or eliminate certain services, stop collecting from certain areas or think out of the box. DPW Director Anderson reviewed the increases again that would take effect July 1, 2022. He briefly explained the Recycling Partnership grant. City Manger Myers noted that the City would need a 10 year bond to purchase all the Toters. There are two bonds that fall off this year so there will be plenty. Chairman Haynes’ concern is the cost to the public with the increases and new items to be purchased. DPW Director Anderson will need a decision from Council by February 14. The consensus regarding moving toward the automated pickup was in agreement with the committee. The presentation will be brought up to the Council at their Jan 24, 2022 meeting for consideration before February 14, 2022. 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 5:10 pm. Respectfully, Acting City Clerk Stacy Anders