2004-05-11CITY OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION: Trash and Recycling Study Committee
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: May 11, 2004
LOCATION: Third Floor, City Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Nancy Frates, Catherine Rich-Duval, Jean
Phinney, Mary Rodrick, Ralph Forgione, Kevin
Ennis, Bill Coughlin
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Sharon Byrne-Kishida, Tina Cassidy
RECORDER: Tina Cassidy
Frates calls the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Since this is the first meeting of the
Committee, Frates suggests that each member introduce themselves with a brief background
and their interest in serving on this committee. Following the introductions, Kishida
circulates a draft list of contact information and asks members to make any necessary
corrections and additions. An updated contact list will be emailed to members before the
next meeting.
Next, Kishida asks for a volunteer to take minutes of the meetings. Cassidy states that she
will take notes and prepare minutes for this first meeting so members can get a sense of the
level of effort they take. The matter will be discussed again at the next meeting.
The committee discusses a draft mission statement that was included on the agenda. The
draft statement reads:
“The goal of the study committee will be to review Beverly’s solid waste program,
investigate options and opportunities to increase recycling and reduce trash generation,
including but not limited to the feasibility of PAYT, it costs and citizens’ willingness
to participate. Based on their findings, the committee will then make their
recommendation to the Mayor and City Council for their consideration and ultimate
decision. Pending positive reception of its recommendation, the Committee will also
assist in the educational outreach component and program implementation.”
Members discuss the draft statement and whether the committee is expected to be involved
with the overarching question of whether there should be a fee in Beverly for trash services.
Frates clarifies that the charge of the committee is not to discuss and decide whether or not
there should be a trash fee. Instead, the committee’s charge is to investigate what kind of a
fee – flat fee, pay-as-you-throw, or other – the City should have if the City Council decides
there will be a fee of some sort.
Rich-Duval says she would prefer to replace the word “options” in the mission statement
with “alternatives”; the study will involve listing pros and cons of each option, evaluating the
pros and cons, and formulating a recommendation. Ennis asks about how much
information will be available to the committee, and how that information will be gathered.
Kishida states that she has a lot of information available as a result of her work as the
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regional DEP coordinator for recycling efforts, and has already gathered significant
information on Beverly’s trash collection, disposal, and recycling matters. She expects to be
able to provide the Committee with whatever information it may need during the course of
the study. Some of this information will be distributed later in the meeting.
Discussion turns to the committee’s name; there is concern that the current name (“Solid
Waste Options Study Committee”) may not effectively communicate what the committee
will be working on. Members decide that the name “Trash and Recycling Study Committee”
is more apt.
The committee modifies the draft mission statement as outlined below, and agrees to discuss
and finalize the statement at the next meeting:
“The goal of the study committee will be to review Beverly’s solid waste program,
investigate alternatives and opportunities to increase recycling and reduce trash
generation, the financial implications of the alternatives, and citizens’ willingness to
participate. Based on its findings, the committee will then make its recommendation
to the Mayor and City Council for their consideration and ultimate decision. Pending
positive reception of its recommendation, the Committee will also assist in the
educational outreach component and program implementation.”
Members review the proposed list of individuals and groups to whom minutes of the
committee’s meetings will be sent. The School Department (possibly via Heidi Zimmerman)
and Peter Seamans in the Engineering Department will be added, and the name of the Solid
Waste Management Committee is corrected. Kishida notes that the City’s trash hauler, JRM,
is on the circulation list, but may not need to receive minutes of every meeting.
Rodrick suggests that the committee consider allowing public comment during the
committee meetings. Several members of the public are here this evening with information
to share. Frates says that public input will be an important component of the committee’s
work. However, the committee is still in its infancy and needs time to organize and educate
itself on the issues and work program before accepting public input and questions. Unless
there is a strong objection from other members, she would prefer to postpone making a
decision on incorporating public comment into committee meetings for two months until
the committee is better established. The question will be revisited at that time. Coughlin
concurs with the suggestion.
Next, the committee discusses the schedule for upcoming meetings and mutually-agreeable
meeting dates and times. The timeline included in the grant suggests that the committee will
meet twice a month. The committee decides that meetings will be held on the second and
fourth Wednesdays of each month from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., on the third floor of City
Hall as room permits. Accordingly, the committee will meet on the following dates:
May 26, 2004 June 9, 2004 June 23, 2004
July 14, 2004 July 28, 2004 August 11, 2004
August 25, 2004 September 8, 2004 September 22, 2004
October 13, 2004 October 27, 2004
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Next, Kishida recommends discussing the possible formation of subcommittees to help the
committee accomplish its work. She summarizes three possible committees:
·
Finance: research the financial implications of various alternatives/options for
structuring fees and how other communities have done so
·
Mentoring communities: identify communities that are most similar to Beverly or
communities that Beverly would like to emulate for purposes of comparison
·
Outreach/survey: educate the public using various methods including surveys and
public information tools
Frates suggests that members consider which of the three subcommittees they might like to
serve on, and the question will be brought up at the next meeting for further discussion.
Kishida distributes the following documents as background information:
·
A partially-completed municipal solid waste profile of Beverly (the blanks will be
filled in at the next meeting)
·
A copy of the City’s current contract with JRM for trash and recycling collection and
disposal
·
Estimated budget breakdowns for the fiscal years 2004 – 2006
·
Trash and recycling information from communities in Kishida’s region that have
curbside collection
·
Survey of comparable communities on CRT’s, bulky items, and white goods
·
Comparison of annual contract collection costs of various communities and average
per-household tonnage
·
List of Massachusetts communities with flat fees arrangements (Kishida suggests
concentrating on those communities that have curbside collection like Beverly)
·
List of Massachusetts communities with pay-as-you-throw programs
Kishida also suggests that members might want to check out two websites for more
information; www.epa.gov, and www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/cities.htm Rodrick hands out
information that the City now distributes relative to recycling in Beverly.
Given the hour, members agree to review this information in advance of the next meeting,
where it will be discussed further. Questions on the handouts in the meantime should be
directed to Kishida and Frates. Frates adds that if anyone has a topic they would like to
include on an agenda, they should send it to Kishida. Coughlin reminds members that the
City Council has scheduled a public hearing on the Mayor’s request for a so-called trash fee
for Monday, June 7, 2004.
Phinney: motion to adjourn, seconded by Rodrick. All members in favor, motion
carries.
The meeting is adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
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