Solid Waste & Recycling Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes

Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committee

Monday November 27, 2023

4:30pm

Members present (in bold): Judy Dorsey, Kathy Brown, City Councilor; Terry Berry, City Councilor; Greg Rand, Nancy Rines, Vanessa Berry, Meghan Jellison, John Cameron, Public Works Director; Kelly Hare, Public Works Admin.

1. Review and approval of 10/23/2023 minutes
   Kathy Brown noted that it wasn’t specified that members of the committee had signed up to work the table at the election. Judy noted that the minutes state, “committee members will be at the Boys and Girls club during the election” It was agreed the wording is ok the way it is.

Vanessa made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, motion seconded. Vote is unanimous.

1. Status report on Hatch Hill
   Judy reports there is no update on Hatch Hill.

1. Progress report on creation of discussion group for possible regional recycling facility
   Judy reports that there are three reporting communities, (Farmingdale, Randolph, and Hallowell) who have not decided yet. Judy reports that Farmingdale is still “mulling it over” and would let Judy know when they decide.

1. Status report regarding community recycling survey 
   There was a great online response to the survey as well as the paper copies. There were 93 hard copies turned in and over 100 at last count.

Discussion between members about how to collate the paper survey with the online survey. Judy noted she would like to look at each survey to see what the responses are. She noted that because the committee set up at the election, she feels there was a “cross section” of people as well as a multitude of paper responses due to the amount of people who felt they had a chance to be heard.

Kathy is wondering what the expectations may be now that the survey is out there. How are we going to manage the expectations of the citizens of the City of Gardiner and what kind of report, if any are we going to be able to give back to them?

Vanessa feels that follow up to the survey will help the citizens feel validated in providing that feedback and that the city will use that feedback in future decision making.

Committee members feel that because of survey responses, it gives citizens backing to say we do need a transfer station and recycling center in the city.

Kathy noted there is a pop-up in Gardiner Current reminding citizens that the survey is due 12/1/2023. Members again stated how happy they are that this survey became so popular, and it may be helpful to share the results on Gardiner Current.

Kathy will ask Melissa Lindley for advice on how to integrate the hard copies with the online copies, as well as how long she thinks it will take to complete this.

1. Next scheduled meeting January 22, 2023

Meeting adjourned at 4:54pm.