Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/09/1991 COW minutes MINUTES COMMI'ITEE OF THE WHOLE APRIL 9, 1991 I ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p m. Present at the meeting were: Mayor Gerald L. Farley, Trustees Mark Busse, Timothy Corcoran, Leo Floros, George Van Geem and Don Weibel. Absent from the meeting was: Trustee Ralph Arthur Also present at the meeting were. Village Manager John Fulton DLxon, Assistant Village Manager John Burg, Finance Director Dave Jepson, Assistant Finance Director Carol Wldmer, Public Works Director Herb Weeks, Deputy Public Works Director Glen Andler and Public Works Adnurastrative Aide Lisa Angell; 45 persons in the audience and three members of the press. II. MINUTES The Minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting of March 26, 1991 were accepted and filed. III. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD There were no citizens to be heard IV. DISCUSSION OF THE REFUSE AND RECYCLING CONTRACT Village Manager Dixon gave an overview of the four bids for the new Refuse and Recycling Contract. He said the bids were very competitive with three companies lower than the current contractor. Deputy Public Works Director Glen Andler then described the current sermce provided by the Village for single-family and multi-family units. He also described the proposed system under the new Contract He said the Recycling Program would be expanded w~th all metal cans including bi-metal as well as three types of plastics He said the Village vnll pay for bulk materials. He said there vnll be two specaal p~ck-ups; in the spring and m the fall, w~th unhnuted matermls to be picked up. He said there would be two bonus weeks during which residents would be allowed three containers instead of the one container. There would also be unlimited brush pick-up. A sticker will be used for yard waste, and grass could be placed in biodegradable bags or in a can with a sticker The multi-family would pay by the contmner rather than by the unit as it is handled currently. The Village would pay only one-half of the first pick-up in a week and none of the second pick-up in the week. Bins would be provided at multi-family complexes to allow for commingling of all the various recyclable materials There would be a grace period from August 1 through January 1 during which slngie-family homes would be allowed two containers. Ken Westlake, the Chairman of the Recycling Commission, wholeheartedly endorsed this new proposed program He said the Recycling Commission voted unanimously, 7-0, to adopt this system. Mr. Westlake focused on the enhanced Recycling Program and the pay-by-bag program. He indicated that corrugated cardboard could be added to the program in the future. Mr. Westlake said he knows of 11 towns in the Chicago metropohtan area that use the pay-by bag program which has greatly reduced the waste stream in these communities He said this program will give those who recycle even more incentive and w~ll encourage those who do not recycle'to participate. He feels a volume-based rate is more equitable and will prowde a benefit for seniors He then answered the various concerns about fly-dumping, theft of stickers and so on. Finance Director Dave Jepson then gave a detailed report regarding the financial impacts of the various alternatives He indicated 'that there would be a strong incentive for recychng and that 75-80% of the residences could get by on the one container if they actively recycle. Village Manager John D~xon then gave a wrap-up on the proposed program He indicated that the Vdlage would try to educate the residents on ways to cut down on the volume of refuse. For example, the Village would pubhcize the methodology for getting a name off the junk-mail list Mr. Dixon also noted that residents could be provided information on types of products which have less packaging. He strongly recommended adopting the proposed one container system The Committee asked questions about the proposed program and the various financml alternatives provided by the bids Trustee Floros asked if the Village could make recycling mandatory. Mr Andler said It would be a major problem pohcing such a program. Trustee Floros said he does not see it as a function of the Village to tell residents what type of products to buy. He considers garbage a basic service which has always been covered by Property Taxes Trustee Welbel asked what kind of cardboard would be added and when Mr. Andler said the specifics of this program have not been worked out yet Trustee Welbel smd it appears that it has been more difficult to get the multi- family dwellings to participate. He asked how the Village would get them to cooperate. Mr. Andler said the onus would rest w~.'th the landlords Trustee Busse asked which towns have a pay-by-bag system. Mr. Andler listed some of the communities. Trustee Busse asked ff these commumties had unlimited garbage service prewously. Mr. Andler said yes and indicated that half of these communities have seen a reduction in the cost for refuse disposal Trustee Busse said he sees a problem for famd~es ~n the proposed one-container, program. He noted this has always been a free service. Trustee Van Geem asked if the Village could allow two containers per week. Mr. Jepson said if all houses had two bags, it would be a losing proposition. However, if the homes averaged less than the two bags, there could still be sigmficant savings. Trustee Van Geem said that he would prefer to allow two bags and then review the program at a later date. He felt that recycling should be voluntary. Mayor Farley then opened the floor to pubhc cor~ments. Eleven ind~wduals spoke regarding the proposed program. Three were in favor of the program proposed by the administration while e~ght opposed the program Those who spoke against the proposed program e~ther were m favor of a two container lmm or unhmated garbage disposal The pubhc comments were concluded at 10.22 p.m. Mayor Farley called a recess from 10:22 p.m. to 10:30 pm. Trustee Corcoran said that if someone can afford to purchase items, that individual can also afford to pay the cost to throw out the garbage. He felt that the only way to get residents totally involved in such a program is through . econormcs. He smd this program could save $2 million, which would pay for the Human Services budget for six years or ten Police Officers and cars for three years. He smd he would like the Village to go to a one container system but consider a larger 45 gallon container w~th wheels hke is done m Chicago or a longer phase-in for the program Trustee Floros cofild not support the one container program. He felt he could support a two container program with the addition of cardboard. He felt that as much as possible should be built into the Property Tax. Trustee Weibel did not feel the program should be implemented qmte as qmckly. He agreed with the two container program. He suggested charging for refrigerators and other appliances. He supported the spring/fall unlimited pink up but suggested doing away with the two bonus weeks. He also suggested that the V~llage work with the managers of the multi-fanuly umts to encourage residents to recycle. Trustee Busse would hke to expand the Recychng Program to include cardboard, mixed paper and anything beyond that. He also agreed with the program to educate the public on how to cut down on waste. However, he felt that a two container hmit was more acceptable. Trustee Van Geem asked what the financial ramifications of the two can limit G would be. He said he would like with for to stay two cans a one-year period tO see how this program would work. Village Manager Dixon suggested pursuing a two-can hmit with the Iow b~dder. The Committee agreed with this proposal noting that the two bonus weeks should be ehminated Village Manager Dixon suggested including bulk items and unhmited brush free of charge. Mr. Jepson recommended charging residents for all yard waste bags the same as the current system under the proposed two can hmit. Manager Dixon then brought up the recommendation to hire a Waste Coordinator for this program Trustees Floros and Weibel supported this position. However, the Committee requested further information on this position with a report and d~scussion on April 16 V. DISCUSSION OF AUTOMATED WATER METER READING SYSTEM Village Manager Dixon recommended the purchase of an Automated Water Meter Reading System for commercial, industrial and multi-family accounts Mr. Andler then explained the proposed Automated Water Meter Reading System Trustee Van Geem asked about the potential cost savings. Mr. Andler said there would be a ten-year payback just takmg into account the deletion of a part-time meter reader and data entry costs totalling approximately $13,000per year. Trustee Van Geem mdmated he would not get that excited about a ten-year payback Vill~tge Manager Dixon indicated another one of the problems is the multaple attempts to read meters and also tampering with the meters. Trustee Van Geem said he cautiously goes along w~th the recommendation Trffstee Weibel asked what type of installation problems there would be with residential versus commercial. Manager D~xon said he is not recommending single-family installation because it is not cost-effective Trustee Corcoran asked what guarantee there would be for a system like this. He also asked what failure rate there is Mr. Andler said the towns which have adopted this system have been virtually problem free. He indicated this is also true with the test system here in the Village. Trustee Busse asked ff this meter reading can be done with regular phone hnes Mr. Andler said yes .44 Trustee Corcoran asked if we charge for damaged meters or tampering Mr. Andler said if it He indicated that the Village would have yes, we can prove to make sure the Village updates the Ordinance to cover such eventualities The Committee approved the installation of the Automated Water Meter Reading System for commercial, industrial and multi-family accounts VI MANAGER'S REPORT Manager Dixon indicated that there will be an Executive Session at 9.00 a m. on Saturday, April 13, to d~scuss htigation. VII. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Trustee Van 'Geem asked a question about the draft version of the l_abrary Resolution. Trustee Van Geem also indicated he had received a memo regarding bids for the Historical Society building. Manager Dixon said the earlier bids were rejected and additional bids were received this morning. Trustee Weibel indicated that an accident had occurred at the corner of Euchd and Burning Bush. He asked the Officer on the scene if he felt that the absence of left-turn lanes had caused the accident The Officer indicated yes Trustee Welbel said that another accident three weeks ago was also caused by the lack of no left-turn lanes. Trustee Van Geem wished Trustee Arthur well because he will be undergoing surgery. VIII ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:35 pm. Respectfully submitted, JOHN P. BURG Assistant Village Manager JPB/rcw