PRESENT: Chair: Swanson/Wishnie. Members: Carsky, Delfino, Latimer, Darcy. STAFF: Don Sandford, Deputy Clerk; John Egner, DPW; Emilia Vita, Secretary to the Committee.

ALSO PRESENT: Village of Scarsdale Officials: Jim Rice, Solid Waste Consultant; Anne Janiak, Mayor; Alfred Gatta, Village Manager; Janet Bell, Co-President-C.A.T.C.H (Coalition Against the Compost).

The meeting was called to order at 2:10 p.m.

Legislator Wishnie stated that the Village of Scarsdale was present to discuss their proposal to bring their leaves to either the Yonkers or White Plains Transfer Station.

Mr. Gatta explained the ongoing situation with composting sites located too close to residential areas and how the issues has been brewing for several years. In the Spring of 1995, a policy decision was made that the Village will no longer compost at individual sites due to the number of problems. One major problem is the location, the Village asked the Department of Environmental Facilities to review the issue and foresee any further problems to transfer to another facility. Commissioner Trelewicz responded, a major concern is the tipping fee, the Village feels it should receive a municipality rate, opposed to the commercial rate due to tonnage. Discussions were held between Scarsdale and the Commissioner with interpretations unclear from both sides, an opinion is pending from the County Attorney.

The Village of Scarsdale would like the Board, as a matter of policy, to review the IMA and allowing communities to pay a municipality rate instead of the commercial rates. Mr. Gatta explained other committees such as Mamaroneck, Mount Vernon and Pelham, may experience similar problems, as it is impossible to compost in a residential area.

On a long term basis, the Village would like to combine resources to create a regional composting station, on a short term basis, Yonkers and White Plains would be sufficient.

Mr. Gatta explained these proposal to the Westchester Municipal Officials Association and they are willing to discuss the issue further.

Legislator Carsky notes this would mean a matter of amending the current IMA and pass a Local Law. Mr. Delfino asked if a financial analysis, and the anticipation of volume of trucks. Mr. Gatta explained off-season, expects approximately 10 to 25 trucks a day, in a four week period in the middle of the season, approximately 40 to 70 trucks per day.

Legislator Wishnie stated that the Northern Coalition brought the issues of a regional water district and said that the new regulations will eventually put out of business. He recalled several complications and objection to the new regulations, he was awaiting a response.

Mr. Rice said there was such opposition, the new regulations are on hold and are being re-written and under review and should be due for hearings shortly. Mr. Wishnie said Scarsdale, in the meanwhile, could maintain and utilize the facility; Mr. Gatta said yes. Ms. Bell, Co-President of C.A.T.C.H (Coalition Against the Compost, represented by Al DelBello) believes Scarsdale was not licensed to operate a compost site, Mr. Gatta stated the Village applied years ago and the existing permits are renewed yearly for about ten years.

Mr. Latimer said, with this particular issue and with enough of municipalities experiencing the same problem, the matter of composting should be discussed to be specific about sites and require some type of action from the Board and the local municipalities. Mrs. Carsky agreed that something must be started; Mr. Wishnie said this Committee should focus and address the problem. It was noted that Jim Hogan has a copy of an assessed report that would provide information to survey those involved and what direction to take.

The Committee on the Environment would like to have a joint meeting when this is discussed. The Co-Chairs thanked the Village officials for their presentation.

Minutes: February 21st, were approved, on the motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator Darcy [6-0].

Item A: 1995 year-end Committee Report: Received and filed on the motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator Darcy [6-0].

Item B: Pre-Qual: An opinion from the County Attorney has been received, copies will be made available to all members. Mr. Latimer suggested this be discussed at the next Committee Chair meetings to structure mechanism to choose such particular issues. Item remains.

Item C: Merge of DEF and DPW: A joint meeting with Budget will be scheduled after the Pepe Building is settled, (tentatively scheduled for March 11th at 2 p.m.)

Item F: Peekskill Sanitary Sewer District: Resolution adopted by full Board at 2/26 meeting: Received and filed on the motion of Legislator Latimer; seconded by Legislator Delfino [6-0].

Legislator Darcy will write to Eileen Pilla RE: Inflow and Infiltration.

With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3 p.m. on the motion of Legislator Delfino, seconded by Legislator Darcy.