PALMER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

SPECIAL BUSINESS MEETING

JANUARY 31, 2007

 

      A special business meeting of the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors was held on Tuesday, January 31, 2007 at 12:00 noon in the Municipal Building Conference Room with four Supervisors in attendance.  Robert Lammi was absent.  Also in attendance were the Township Manager, Director of Public Services, Cindy Oatis - Recycling Coordinator, Rob Reese – Co-Chair of the Environmental Steering Committee (ESC), Attorney Christy Schlottman and the Township Solicitor.  Joe Nixon from the Morning Call and Courtney Lomax from the Express-Times, represented the news media.  Colver convened the meeting and led those present in the Pledge to the Flag. 

 

      Colver noted that the meeting was advertised in the Express Times.  Schlottman said the bids were opened on Monday and this meeting is to give the Board the information that was in the bids and give them the opportunity to ask questions regarding the bid options.  Bruno said no decisions will need to be made today the meeting is just for informational purposes.

     

2.   RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING COLLECTION, DISPOSAL & PROCESSING BID DISCUSSION

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Cindy Oatis, Recycling Coordinator, said the ESC started this process a few years ago.  Oatis said they looked at bids recently received in neighboring communities.  Oatis said the ESC wanted to address concerns regarding the process, township employee concerns regarding increases in workload, and also the need for a provider supplying strong customer service.  Oatis said they also needed to review the manageability of the toter process.  Oatis said they started with a total of five options and ended up bidding three options.  Option one being all inclusive, option two the graduated cost reduction, and option three being the toter option.  Oatis said the township is currently billing 6966 households and the bids were based on 7000.  Oatis handed out a summary of the bids to the individuals in attendance.  Anckaitis said the 13% administrative fee the township uses covers the billing process, postage, equipment used to process the billing, salaries, benefits, etc.  Anckaitis said the township doesn’t make any money on this fee, it is break even.  Oatis said the ESC members reviewed the numbers last night.  Oatis said the all inclusive option is very expensive.  Oatis said limited pickup offers limited savings to the residents.  Oatis said option three is the option the ESC is recommending the township consider.  Oatis said it is cleaner and definitely the safest option for the haulers.  Oatis said it also is proven to increase recycling numbers so grant money received from DEP may increase; we’ve also been told DEP may reimburse us for the cost of the toters through grant funds.  Oatis said that is not guaranteed but DEP said they will consider it.  Oatis said the toters have a ten year warranty. 

 

      Colver asked if each resident would receive one 96 gallon toter.  Oatis said yes.  Oatis said there would be a 32 gallon toter option for senior citizens if a 96 gallon wasn’t needed.  Colver asked what if they need more than 96 gallons.  Oatis said anything extra the resident would be charged for.  Oatis said they would have two options; a resident could call the contracted hauler to schedule a larger pickup or the residents could be required to purchase stickers at the township municipal building.  Oatis said the Board would need to decide how they want to handle this.

 

      Mr. Pantaleo, Raritan Valley, said the 96 gallon toter holds three full garbage cans.  Smith asked what happens if people put grass clippings in the toter.  Oatis said they can put anything in the toter.  Colver asked if the lid has to be closed.  Oatis said she thinks if it’s open slightly the hauler would take it. 

 

      Oatis said recently some township representatives went out to area communities and watched the toter process.  Oatis said the cleanliness of the system was very impressive.  Smith asked about recycling.  Oatis said the recycling would remain the same as it is now, in a recycling container picked up by a different truck on the same day.  Colver asked what happens if a car knocks a toter over.  Oatis said when they went out and watched the process they witnessed the driver manually got out of the truck and picked up the trash.  Colver said he’s thinking of snow plow season in the winter.  Pantaleo said if there is a big snow storm we probably won’t be picking up anyway.  Panella asked if a kid comes running out what are the safety features.  Oatis said the operator is on the side of the truck with the arm and he has a camera showing the back of the truck too.  Anckaitis said from the hauler point of view it’s safer because there is only one operator and there not getting in and out of the truck and doing any lifting or crossing the street. 

 

      Colver asked when the new contract goes into effect.  Oatis said May 2nd but we obviously need time to educate the residents on any changes.  Panella asked about charges to residents for bulk pickup.  Oatis said a price sheet was attached to the submitted bids that designated the fees that would be charged per item during the term of the contract.  Anckaitis said the resident isn’t going to be required to call the hauler we contract with for extra pickup; they can make arrangements with anyone they want.  Smith asked how the toters would be distributed.  Oatis said the hauler would deliver them.  Pantaleo said in the past they have set up assembly and distribution areas in the township and they deliver them by trailer to the residents.  Pantaleo said delivery includes an instruction sheet for the resident about where to place the toter for pickup.  Colver asked what the color would be.  Oatis said the township can decide that. 

 

      Robert Natkie, General Manager of J. P. Mascaro, said he is also a resident of the township.  Natkie said the carts do look nice but he wants the township to keep in mind the need for good customer service.  Natkie said with Waste Management, the current provider, he’s witnessed blown cans, lids, etc. and they won’t pick them up.  Natkie said J. P. Mascaro will clean up the area.  Natkie also noted that the price difference between option one and two is only a $1.79 difference per month.  Natkie said that small difference gives you the ability to take bulk items and white goods.  Natkie said there won’t be a need to pickup stickers or call the hauler for pickup and extra payment.  Natkie said for $1.79 a month you get the bulk items picked up as long as it doesn’t have freon in them. 

 

      Colver asked about recycling for options one and two.  Oatis said recycling numbers have dropped in the past in the township.  Oatis said she believes one reason may be we have a lot of out of state residents that have moved into the area and aren’t familiar with recycling.  Oatis said it will still continue to be in a different container and picked up by another truck.   

     

3.   REPORTS

     

Solicitor

·        Bruno said the process is moving along on schedule.

 

Township Manager

·        Anckaitis said he gave the Board a letter from a resident interested in the vacant position on the Shade Tree Commission.  The Board agreed to place the item on the February 5th meeting agenda.

 

Supervisors

·        Colver said he wanted to thank the members of the ESC who has spent many volunteer hours preparing for the bids and evaluating the township options.    

 

On motion by Panella, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 12:50 p.m. 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Robert G. Anckaitis

Township Manager