SMETHPORT – McKean County Solid Waste Authority members are
still trying to decide what their role should be now that they no
longer have a landfill to worry about.
With only four of the seven members present Monday, they showed
some deep divisions and conflicts.
Bob Cummins told fellow boardmembers that he had talked to the
Elk County recycling coordinator, and that she was willing to come
before the McKean Board “to give a presentation.”
Speaking of a suggestion that the SWA should take the lead in
hiring a recycling coordinator for McKean County, Cummins said “I
think it’s a good idea … we should provide for it.”
Greg Bell noted that Rustick officials, the new owners of the
landfill, have talked much about recycling, and suggested that
perhaps the board should wait to see what the company would do.
Terry Palmer noted that the status of the Authority itself is
uncertain and that it was no time to think about taking on
employees.
“… It’s a great idea, but not at this time.”
Palmer suggested that the board meet with Rustick “to see how it
fits into their plans.”
Board Chairman Mike Holtz also advised taking a more cautious
approach, saying nothing should be done “… till we see where we’re
going.”
Cummins, showing some impatience, asked “We’re not going to talk
to Rustick? Not going to do anything?”
When he repeated an offer to go himself to talk the Rustick
President Maria Casey, Palmer interjected “I don’t mind talking to
Rustick, but I don’t think you’re the person.”
Cummins asked for an explanation, and Palmer told him, “I’ve
lost confidence in you … you’re billing us for services we asked
you not to.”
“You’re the secretary/treasurer and you’re not doing your
job.
Palmer referred to a $146 invoice from Cummins for services of
his company’s secretary in taking care of SWA business.
He told Cummins that the SWA is a voluntary board, and that
Cummins was supposed to do that work himself.
Palmer suggested that the board study the SWA charter “to see
what our mission is,” and to see whether the recycling coordinator
is part of that mission.
The board also will get copies of the Municipal Waste Management
Plan to see what their role is in implementing it.
There was also some talk of whether the board should continue to
exist, a decision that is not entirely up to the board.
After some discussion, the board agreed to let Sherry Flint, its
new part-time secretary, take care of paying its bills.
That job had been given last month to Ed Sleeman, an accountant
who is also doing an audit.
New boardmember Dave Fair urged that the board find an
independent person to handle the SWA’s petty finances, so that
Sleeman could do the audit for the rest of the year without a
conflict.
Sleeman had done an audit up to the point the landfill changed
hands, but the Authority will still needs an audit as long as it
exists. Starting over with a new auditor could be prohibitively
expensive, boardmembers felt.
New York Life agent Alan Bean explained details of the transfer
of the retirement funds for landfill workers employees now that
they are employees of Rustick.
He noted that nothing would change for persons already retired,
and that workers with five years service could roll their
contributions into another fund,
Employees who have not worked five years will get their 3
percent contribution back.
Bean also told the board to write to the Pennsylvania Municipal
Retirement System to disenroll from its program.
Bills totaling $143,052 were authorized for payment, and Holtz
noted that there were still about $150,000 worth of bills, going
back three years, to be paid.
There was no discussion of the fate of the approximately $5.7
million left from the landfill sale; members said that there had
been no more talk with the commissioners or among themselves since
the last report,
Asked if there was any progress in negotiations between the
Authority and the City of Bradford, Holtz replied “always.”
The board went into executive session to discuss those
negotiations.
