MINUTES

COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS

COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

APRIL 15, 1996 2:00 P.M.

PRESENT: PW: Co-Chairs Swanson and

Leg. Latimer.

ENV: Chair Carsky, Legs:

Latimer and Delfino

ALSO PRESENT: Comm. Trelewicz, Mr. Egner

Goody LeLash, Mrs. Keating.

ITEMS DISCUSSED:

Co-Chair Wishnie called the Public Works Committee to order at 2:05 P.M. Chair Carsky called the Environment Committee to order at 2:05 P.M.

On motion of Co-Chair Wishnie, seconded by Co-Chair Swanson, the minutes of March 18 and April 1, 1996, were approved.

Co-Chair Wishnie asked Comm. Trelewicz to bring the Committees up to speed on the Composting Report.

Comm. Trelewicz state that we do not do composting at any site. Most communities do it themselves. The County does not want leaves at RESCO. What they have tried to do is to open a Push Pit at the Mount Vernon and Yonkers Transfer Stations to compact the leaves and then they are trucked to Orange County at a cost of roughly $30.00 a ton. This is done on a contract basis.

If a community does not belong to the district a fee is charged.. If they are a member and are under load, it is $22.00 a ton. If they are over, they are charged the Commercial rate of $53.00 a ton. That is another reason why we do not want leaves in the waste stream. We could be collecting $53.00 and making more money.

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There was also a suggestion that we use parkland to collect the leaves, but it was pointed out that parkland can only be used for park purposes.

Co-Chair Wishnie stated that they may allow us to use it since it would really only involve October and November and possibly, March, for Spring clean-up.

Comm. Trelewicz stated that they might be able to use the site behind the MRF and pull out what is delivered by the municipalities but it would have to be trucked to either Orange or another site that is 90 miles north of here. The transporter must also have all the right DEC permits. Not just anyone can transport.

Comm. Trelewicz stated that last year we took care of 6001 tons for $185,000 - which roughly equals $30.00 per ton. If we could get that out of the waste stream, that would free up space that we can sell for $53.00.

Chair Carsky stated that there are 33,000 tons in the waste stream a year that we need to get out.

Leg. Latimer wanted to make sure he understood the Commissions and asked that first the municipalities are charged $20.00 and when they exceed their tonnage they are charged $53.00 and Comm. Trelewicz said yes.

Leg. Latimer stated that we must encourage people to pull out leave so that they will not go to RESCO.

Comm. Trelewicz stated that he is just doing what is in the IMA. He also stated that most communities could get a vendor for less than $30.00.

The question was also raised about not charging the communities for composting. Comm. Trelewicz felt that the communities that were presently doing this would close down and send everything to the County to save money, however, it would cost the County much more and the we are really not set up at the MRF to handle that. With the new pending state regulations, the County would need more equipment, more trucks and obtain the necessary DEC permits.

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Chair Carsky brought up the proposed legislation and those present felt that it might need to be re-drafted. The Commissioner stated that he would be very willing to sit down with our lobbyist and assist in any way possible.

Ms. LeLash stated that many people would be against using the parks, but if the bill is drafted properly, it might work. Since the Parks Board is a private entity, they may also need to be consulted.

Co-Chair Wishnie asked if there was a private site that might meet the requirements within Westchester - such as the IBM site. Comm. Trelewicz stated that traffic and trucking could be a problem.

On behalf of all those present, Co-Chair Wishnie thanked the Commissioner for coming.

There was a brief discussion on the SSES. Mr. DeLuca and Ms. Slaatten came into the meeting. Mr. DeLuca is totally against another extension. He felt that the commentates have been dragging their feet and will use the extension for the County to pay.

Co-Chair Wishnie stated that the Public Works Committee has set up a meeting for April 29 with the communities and would like Mr. DeLuca to attend. Mr. DeLuca stated that he would attend, however, he feels that we are just going over everything again. It is his opinion that we will be fined.

Ms. Slaatten stated that bond counsel has opined that it is a 5A district which must go through the State Comptroller.

Co-Chair Wishnie thanked everyone for coming and on motion of Co-Chair Swanson, the Public Works Committee adjourned at 3:00 P.M.

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On motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Chair Carsky, the Environment Committee adjourned at 3:00 P.M.