HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-08-16 Infrastructure Committee Minutes
Infrastructure Committee
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Minutes
Councilors Attending: Geoffrey Gratwick Charles Longo Nelson Durgin Gerry Palmer
Staff Attending: Art Morgan Gerry Hughes Bob Farrar Dana Wardwell
Jerry Hughes
Others Attending: Jim Smith Greg Lounder
Agenda
1. Discussion of Bangor PPB/SS Recycling Impact on PERC and GAT
(Greg Lounder, Executive Director of the Municipal Review Committee will be in attendance.)
Bob Farrar and Greg Lounder, with the Municipal Review Committee provided a brief history of
MRC. In the 1980’s PERC was formed and entered into a contract for Bangor Hydro to buy 162
megawatts of power per year for 30 years, which expires in 2018. 86 existing communities are
in the Committee and 47 new. The PERC plant processes 300,000 tons of waste a year.
Communities have to pay a Guaranteed Annual Tonnage (GAT), and if they fall short of their
anticipated tonnage a penalty imposed. Mr. Lounder explained tip fees: gross/72.00 and
net/46.00. Locally, municipalities contribute 2/3 of what they handle, the remainder from out of
state. Bangor was noted as being the largest single supplier with an average of 30,000 tons,
10,000 in residential and 20,000 in commercial.
Greg provided handouts to the members and outlined the consequences of Bangor going to the
PAYT program. He noted there was a shortfall in 2009 that was waived, however in 2010 the
group as a whole had penalties of 98,000. He projected levels would decrease by approximately
a 10% drop for the next five years.
If PERC was unable to get municipal solid waste from outside services, project cost of
107.00/ton, wood chips would have to be considered a supplemental source.
Councilor Durgin suggested doing a feasibility study and that the cost of wood chips could
escalate and Councilor Palmer mentioned the possibility of wood chips non-availability. They
suggested the likelihood of blended with wood chips and municipal solid waste from outside
sources. Municipalities collectively were faced with a best case scenario of penalties at $48,000
and worse being 600,000. Significant planning would need to be done before 2018, such as
analysis and formal report of expectations by 2012.
Councilor Durgin requests figures for the Council.
Jim Smith, Assistant City Manager of Brewer noted they had looked into cost effective and
environmental friendly alternatives. The final destination of Boston was not a factor but citizen
benefits were. He did note that Bangor started off with a program, Brewer did not.
Greg noted stated the Commission needed to do an analysis.
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Jerry Hughes informed the members that the trucks used for recycling would need some work
should they decide to go back that way.
Art Morgan suggested a workshop. Bob suggested Staff rework the performer, Councilor
Gratwick thought at some point a workshop, but more information would come back within eight
weeks, and Councilor Longo suggested to keep this at the forefront. Councilor Durgin and
Councilor Palmer preferred a workshop.
No motion was necessary.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 6:33 p.m.
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