Sanitary Disposal District Commission

SANITATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, March 22, 2022 TIME: 4:30 P.M. MUNICIPAL BUILDING ROOM 208 MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT Members Present: Monica J. Belyea, MPH, RD Thomas Goglia Members Absent: Seb Santacroce, Chair John H. Porter John Uccello Staff Present: Ben Florsheim, Mayor Christopher M. Holden, P.E., Acting Director of Public Works Rohan Manning, Acting Deputy Director of Public Works Kim O’Rourke, Recycling Program Coordinator Lee Muscatello, Tax Collector Others Present: Kristen Brown – Waste Zero Monica Belyea called the Sanitation Commission Meeting to order at 4:41 p.m. It was noted that Councilman, in reference to Commissioners, should be Commissioner. Thomas Goglia moved to approve the Minutes, as edited, from February 23, 2021. The motion was seconded by Monica Belyea. The motion passed unanimously. Correspondence: None NEW BUSINESS: a. Sanitation Delinquencies – Lee Muscatello, Tax Collector – Approximately ninety-two percent of invoices that were sent have been paid ($815,000.00). Prior year delinquencies have had liens placed. Historically, houses are not taken in foreclosure. By working with lenders, delinquencies are added to property loans. Quality data manages the bills and mailings. b. Sanitation Commission Meeting Dates 2022 – Discussion took place regarding the starting time for meetings. Thomas Goglia moved to accept the meeting dates. The motion was seconded by Monica Belyea. The motion passed unanimously. c. Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Grant Application Presentation-Kristen Brown, Waste Zero – Kim O’Rourke shared that Middletown has been very active with the Connecticut Coalition of Sustainable Materials Management. The group was formed by the State DEEP to bring municipalities together to look at different options for reducing and managing waste more sustainably. Also, to handle the increase in pricing that will be coming down the road. Extender producer responsibility and food waste were looked into, started programs for food waste collection. Mayor Florsheim was Co-Chair of the increasing recycling working group, which had good programs that the City is active in. One of the biggest impacts can come from unit based pricing. Kristen Brown did a research project a few years ago. At that time, she analyzed the Sanitation District and provided information for savings, by having a program developed. This is a great way to reduce waste, manage costs, and prepare for the future. Last year grants were offered to municipalities. Approximately 55 communities applied for Phase 1. The City of Middletown was accepted into Phase 2, and now there are approximately 35 municipalities being considered for this money. This assistance is key to helping with getting a program started, and was not available five years ago. Work is being done on Phase 2 of the Grant Application. Kristen Brown shared a presentation on UBP and Possible Food Waste Co- collection Program, Sustainable Materials Management Grant Program, Technical Assistance Process Spring 2022. The grant can be significant, in the range of $200,000.00. Capacity of landfills is expected to shrink over the next thirty years. Unit based pricing is the single most effective action that can be taken to reduce waste. Curbside food waste collection is important. Co-collection is suggested for the City of Middletown. The proposal is for a one year pilot, with options presented. Mayor Florsheim supports the grant application. He thanked Acting Director Holden and Kim O’Rourke for their work. Also, Kristen Brown, the Commissioner of DEEP, and the Governor for supporting this pilot program. d. Resolution Supporting SMM Grant - In anticipation of receiving the grant, Kim O’Rourke has prepared a Resolution for review by the members of the Sanitation Commission. Additional program information was presented, with various questions answered. Thomas Goglia moved to accept the Resolution, in support of submitting the grant, and move it to the Common Council. The motion was seconded by Monica Belyea. The motion passed unanimously. Mayor Florsheim will prepare a letter of support, to be submitted with the grant application. e. Budget – Christopher Holden presented the budget, noting changes due to the recycling market resetting monthly. Kim O’Rourke explained that the markets go up and down. Recycling may not generate any revenue this year, with many unknowns for the cost, in a complicated system. EPR for packaging would be a benefit to the budget, and is a perfect example of where that would assist municipalities. There is a Bill (115) and it did have a public hearing. Thomas Goglia moved to accept the budget. The motion was seconded by Monica Belyea. The motion passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS: a. Cardboard Report – Sanitation Commission Members reviewed the cardboard report. b. Tonnage Report – Sanitation Commission Members reviewed the tonnage report. OTHER: As there was no further discussion, Monica Belyea moved to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Thomas Goglia. The motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 5:32 p.m.