HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-04-20 Infrastructure Committee Minutes1
Infrastructure Committee Minutes
April 20, 2022
ATTENDEES
Councilors: Gretchen Shaefer, Dina Yacoubagha, Jonathan Sprague, Susan Hawes, Rick Fournier
Staff: Aaron Huotari
Public: Owner of Bolster’s Rubbish Removal, LLC.
AGENDA
1. Bolster’s Rubbish Removal, LLC – Waste Hauler License
Aaron Huotari noted the City’s Ordinance 265-1 required waste haulers to apply for and receive a license to haul
waste from addresses within the City.
In June, 2021, Public Work’s Staff sent a reminder to all haulers who have previously hauled waste from the City
of the requirement to submit a waste hauler application. A response was not received from Bolster’s Rubbish
Removal, LLC.
In August 2021 an email was sent to the address listed on Bolster’s Rubbish Removal website to remind them of
the need to register as a waste hauler within the City of Bangor. Again, no response.
Bolster’s Rubbish Removal services 18 dumpster in the City, as well as servicing Walmart. Due to the failure to
register as a waste hauler, Bolster’s Rubbish Removal was sent a notification of suspension of their rights to haul
waste out of Bangor. This caused Matt Bolster, owner of Bolster’s Rubbish Removal, to contact Aaron.
After receiving the letter of suspension, Mr. Bolster mailed a waste hauler license application registering one
truck, a rear-load 18-yard capacity 2012 Freightliner. This vehicle is incapable of servicing an account like
Walmart with a compactor. During a discussion Mr. Bolster denied that he had any dumpsters at Walmart.
Once he was informed the City was aware of his hauling waste out of Walmart he said he didn’t feel the need to
report as he was the subcontractor and he was only paid to pick up the garbage. He later submitted another
application to register four more vehicles to haul waste, vehicles of the type that would service Walmart.
After Mr. Bolster was sent a letter of suspension on April 4, 2022, Aaron witnessed a Bolsters trash truck
emptying a Bolster’s dumpster at Stillwater Avenue Laundry on Stillwater Avenue on the afternoon of April 5,
2022, in direct violation of the suspension. Mr. Bolster was informed, by Aaron, in writing and verbally, that he
did not have permission to haul waste from Bangor yet he still directed his truck to pick up trash in the City of
Bangor.
The City of Bangor is a waste flow control municipality and is required to generate a minimum agreed upon
volume of waste per the Master Waste Supply Agreement and failure to produce volume results in fines for the
City of Bangor. Records indicate that Bolster’s Rubbish has registered with the City of Bangor in 2011, indicating
knowledge of the requirement.
The City of Bangor has no responsibility to inform waste haulers of the requirement to register. However,
Bolster’s Rubbish Removal, LLC was sent a reminder of the requirement to register on June 1, 2021. Bolster’s
Rubbish Removal, LLC. was also sent a reminder via email on August 2, 2021 informing them of the need to
register. Matt Bolster, owner, responded that he had to register in a number of municipalities in his operating
area so hauler registration wasn’t a new concept.
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The City of Bangor wasn’t been able to collect the registration fee from Bolster’s Rubbish Removal, LLC. Also, the
City has was unable to collect the $1.50/ton MRC administrative fee from Bolster’s Rubbish Removal, LLC. in
FY22, resulting in a reduction of MRC revenue. Additionally, the City was unable to collect the 1% City’s
administrative fee from Bolster’s Rubbish Removal, LLC. in FY22, resulting a reduction of City’s revenue. The City
had no way to determine how much waste Bolster’s Rubbish Removal, LLC had removed from the City. Matt
Bolster stated that he didn’t track the weight of materials removed from the City. Bolster’s Rubbish Removal,
LLC. had been collecting waste for the entirety of FY22 in violation of the solid waste ordinance.
Staff recommends a fine of $150/day is imposed, the total fine between 7/1/21 – 4/1/22 would be 274 days x
$150 =$41,100 (this assumes a fine for every day he was collecting waste in his dumpsters). And a fine of
$150/wk be imposed, the total fine between 7/1/21 – 4/1/22 would be 39 weeks x $150 =$5,850 (this assumes
he serviced all dumpsters in Bangor 1 day/week). Staff also recommended accepting the application of Bolster’s
Rubbish Removal, LLC. and issue a license under the following conditions: Bolster’s to pay full license fee of
$200, a fine of $5,850 for 39 days of operation without license, and provide estimated tonnage picked up during
FY22.
Bolster’s owner spoke to Committee about his outreach to Aaron to work with the City and adhere to the City’s
Ordinance.
Vote: Motion made and seconded, unanimously.
2. Easement: Versant Power Utility Pole – Main Street, Waterfront Concert Site
John discussed the request for the easement was for Versant Power to provide electrical service to the
Waterfront Concert Venue area and the placement of utility pole, with no further discussion..
Vote: Motion made and seconded, unanimously.
Meeting adjourned