MINUTES
JULY 5, 2011
DALLAS AREA MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY
An advertised work session was held at 6:30PM, on July 5, 2011, at the DAMA Administrative
Building to review the solid waste, recycling, and composting program.
Board Members present: Craig Tupper, Chuck Steever, Tim Carroll, John Oliver, and Kathy
Sebastian.
Other officials present: Attorney Benjamin R. Jones, III, Larry Spaciano, and Carol Kieser.
Audience:
Erik Sowga and Jerome Walsh, State Correctional Institution, Dallas
James J. Youngblood, Dallas Area Municipal Authority
Larry Spaciano reported that a revised draft lease agreement has been received for the proposed
joint DAMA/SCI-Dallas composting operation. The revision deleted Item “3-C” regarding
collection of Act 101 recycling by DAMA at SCI Dallas. Copies of the agreement were previously
distributed to the Board for review and comment.
Mr. Walsh explained that the prison will only need approximately two, 10 ton dump truck loads a
month of ground yardwaste to add to their kitchen waste compost operation. Currently the prison
is supplied bagged leaves from Kingston Township. Mr. Tupper noted that the Board still has
several concerns with relocation of DAMA’s compost operation to the SCI Dallas site. Larry
Spaciano commented on an intended course of action to address these issues.
The following concerns of the Board were discussed with Mr. Sowga and Mr. Walsh.
1. Site improvements and access control – The 15 acre site can be accessed from Smith
Pond Road or Follies Road onto a dirt road owned and maintained by the SCI-Dallas.
A quarter mile access road would need to be constructed from the dirt road to the site.
The SCI regularly patrols the area eliminating the need for a gate.
2. The logistics to and from the municipalities – Yard waste drop off and pickup of
processed compost to be coordinated with the municipalities. A grant to purchase rolloff containers is being investigated by Larry Spaciano thru Lisa Baker’s office.
A site visit of the property is scheduled for Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 1PM. Larry Spaciano will
email the board members and coordinate with SCI-Dallas. Attorney Jones will review the revised
lease agreement and comment at the July Board meeting.
Page Two of Two
Minutes-July 5, 2011
Dallas Area Municipal Authority
Larry Spaciano reported that he requested James Youngblood, DAMA’s Recycling Coordinator, to
track the collection routes used by the Authority’s current solid waste and recycling hauler, and
compile a report on total hours, routes, any problems, and the number of trucks used during
routine collection in the DAMA service area. A copy of this report was then distributed to the
Board. Mr. Youngblood presented a detailed overview of the report using a map of the Back
Mountain on which the DAMA collection days and specific collection areas were highlighted, and
addressed questions fielded by the Board. It was noted that all previous and the current hauler
utilize several large (27 – 32 cubic yard) trucks, and one smaller (10 – 12 cubic yard) shuttle truck
during daily routine collection of solid waste and recycling.
Mr. Tupper and Mr. Oliver reported that a resource person has reviewed the current proposal for
collection of solid waste and recycling by DAMA, and has distributed a report to the Board of his
recommendations. A copy of this report was given to Larry Spaciano for review. The need for a
building from which to operate the solid waste division, operational logistics, changes in recycling
collection, personnel required, and the need for safety training were discussed.
The Board discussed the purchase of equipment and criteria for hiring the solid waste division
personnel, and noted the urgency to make a decision by the July board meeting, if possible, or no
later than the regular August meeting, to move forward with this proposal or put the solid waste
and recycling contract out for bid as the current contract expires December 31, 2011. Mr. Tupper
stated that it should be emphasized that composting be included as an integral part of this proposal
for funding purposes due to its relationship to recycling, and the need by the municipalities to
dispose of yardwaste.
The availability of commercial drivers licensed (CDL) personnel was discussed. Larry Spaciano
will check into the job applications presently on file at DAMA for CDL qualified applicants, and
present this information to the Board at the July 14th meeting.
Mr. Carroll requested that the board explore the need to appoint an assistant solicitor to help with
DAMA’s legal affairs.
No additional matters were discussed, and the work session was adjourned at 8PM.
Respectfully submitted
Timothy J Carroll
Secretary
Dallas Area Municipal Authority