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HAMILTON COUNTY MINUTES OF A
REGULAR MEETING OF DATE: August 15, 2002 TIME: 2:00 pm PLACE: Hamilton County
Department of Environmental Services PRESENT:
Policy Committee DOES Staff Others In
Attendance ABSENT:
Policy Committee Members I. CALL TO ORDER II. CLERK'S REPORT A.
Approval
of Minutes - May 9, 2002 B.
Additions/Changes to the Agenda
A. Finance SubCommittee Report - August 15, 2002 As the Finance SubCommittee phoned in approval of expenditures, there was nothing to report.
The Finance SubCommittee reviewed the expenditures and recommended
approval of SWR 05/2002 which covers expenditures from May 1 - July 31,
2002. Mr. DiPuccio motioned approval of SWR 05/2002. Mr. Ingram seconded
and SWR 05/2002 was approved by acclamation. IV. PRESENTATION A. Alliance for Chemical Safety (ACS) Mr. Aluotto stated that Dr. Evert was affiliated with the Alliance for Chemical Safety and they received a grant from the District for $4,000 to study household hazardous materials management options for Hamilton County. The District also hired an intern, Ms. Blair, to assist the ACS in a study regarding various programming options and implications behind those programs which were included in the Policy Packet as Attachment B. Mr. Aluotto discussed the history of HHM management within Hamilton County and the District's role. Dr. Evert stated that the Alliance for Chemical Safety's report had been placed in front of each Policy Committee Member for their review. Dr. Evert complimented Ms. Blair on her report and summarized the recommendations. 1) Environmental Enterprises is interested in operating a permanent collection center and 2) The Policy Committee consider increasing the amount budgeted for HHM. Dr. Evert stated the report from the ACS is a review of what they had looked at collectively. Essentially, the ACS reported the possible establishment of a Hamilton County recycling and research center which could provide a HHM collection facility. Dr. Evert spoke in detail regarding what the HHM center could provide to Hamilton County residents and gave examples of other centers in other counties. A brief discussion ensued regarding the report. Mr. Portune suggested that District Staff compile specific recommendations from both reports and bring it back to the Policy Committee for consideration and decision on September 12, 2002 meeting. After the Policy Committee approval, forward the recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners for formal action.
A. Budget
Mr. Aluotto discussed each budget modification in detail and a question and answer session followed. Mr. Portune suggested contacting the City of Harrison and Whitewater Township Sewer Districts to see if they would be interested in contributing for the cause. On the motion of Mr. Portune, seconded by Dr. O'Reilly, the budget modifications were approved. B. 2002 Residential Reduction Assistance Grants Mr. Aluotto discussed the history of the Residential Reduction Assistance Grants Program. The District received eleven applications from political subdivisions and non-profit organizations. Requests from political subdivisions totaled $77,848.00; requests from non-profits and schools totaled $28,366.00. The total amount combined equals $106,214.00. Since the Grant Program is budgeted for $100,000, some cuts needed to be made as outlined in Attachment C of the Manager's Memo. Ms. Christmann briefly described each grant proposal and a question and answer session followed. Dr. O'Reilly thanked the District on behalf of the City of Wyoming for grant funding received last year and briefly described the program. Mr. Portune stated that his children attended Dater Montessori and asked if it could be voted on separately. The Policy Committee agreed. Mr. Ingram moved to approve grant funding for Dater Montessori. Dr. O'Reilly seconded. Mr. Portune abstained. All were in favor and the motion was approved. Dr. O'Reilly moved to approve grant funding for the remaining Residential Reduction Assistance Grant applicants. Mr. DiPuccio seconded. All were in favor and the motion was approved.
Mr. Aluotto stated that the Policy Committee had correspondence from Ron Miller with the Regional Planning Commission in front of them. Mr. Aluotto stated that the correspondence involved the land- use plan amendments (LUPA) submitted by Colerain Township which will potentially have some affect on the future of Rumpke Landfill and Hamilton County. The Regional Planning Commission has specifically asked the District to answer specific questions relating to the land-use plan amendments concerning the solid waste management implications of the plan. Mr. Aluotto expressed to the Regional Planning Commission that he would bring this matter to the Policy Committee and the questions would be addressed to the best ability possible. Mr. Aluotto introduced Mr. Baxter to the Policy Committee and opened up the floor for discussion. Mr. Aluotto stated that through the approval of the Policy Committee, the District would only answer questions that pertain to solid waste management issues only. District Staff are not land use planning experts or economic development experts and therefore will have to limit their response to the solid waste implications of the LUPA. Mr. Aluotto stated that the District has already started a capacity study that should be complete by mid to late October. The Regional Planning Commission did not seem to be on a strict time line. Mr. Baxter stated that the Regional Planning Commission is going to hold off in making a decision until as many of the questions can be answered. After further discussion, Mr. Portune stated that the Policy Committee deems answering the questions advisable and acceptable.
Mr. Aluotto stated that the District is beginning an update of the capacity survey. The last capacity survey was conducted in 1996 or 1997. Mr. Riddle gave a brief update regarding Rumpke's current expansion request.
Mr. Aluotto stated that Mr. Portune and the District were trying to gain feedback from political subdivisions as to their thoughts on an Environmental Court, how their existing enforcement operations work, and whether an Environmental Court would provide a useful legal jurisdiction for them to take advantage of. Mr. Aluotto stated that the District has been receiving some responses that have been forwarded from Commissioner Portune's office so that the District could follow up on them. Mr. Aluotto stated that the Policy Committee had a fact sheet in front of them that outlined the responses from the communities that have responded to date. Mr. Portune stated that he had written to the top elected officials and the top administrative officials in each of the 49 political subdivisions to ascertain levels of support for an Environmental Court in June, 2002. Mr. Portune's office has received 10 out of a possible 49 responses back from the Political Subdivisions regarding Environmental Court. Six of the responses were from municipalities and 4 were from townships. From the townships, 3 were favorable to the effort of moving forward with an Environmental Court. Whitewater Township was split in its response. Regarding the municipalities, only 2 of the six that responded expressed support for Environmental Court. The two municipalities that responded were among the largest of the municipalities; The City of Forest Park and the City of Sharonville. The Villages of Glendale, Fairfax, Montgomery, and Amberley expressed opposition to the idea of creating an Environmental Court. Mr. Portune stated that in only receiving 10 responses back out of 49 he didn't know how representative the responses were of an overall county-wide perspective. Mr. Portune stated that it was represented to him by three individuals over the past two days that the State Legislature has taken action to approve an Environmental Court and to line item funding. He has not received confirmation from any State Legislature to date. Mr. Portune stated that on a Board level, Mr. Dowlin raised the question of where the Prosecutor stood on this issue. Mr. Portune asked Ms. Chin if an Environmental Court had been discussed in her office. Ms. Chin stated that she did mention it to Terry Gaines a few months ago and she mentioned to Mr. Aluotto that at the very beginning, it should not affect their staff because currently, on the municipal dockets, prosecutors are present anyway. The Magistrate's docket would take a lot of those cases from the normal municipal docket and it would just shift over to the magistrate's docket and the Prosecutor would also cover it. Ms. Chin stated that right now, she doesn't see this as a problem but it could become one down the road. Mr. Portune stated that staffing issues are issues one needs to take on as they arise. Mr. Portune asked if there was any chance that we could get something in writing from the Prosecutor's Office that outlines that in time for the next meeting? Ms. Chin stated that she can see if Terry Gaines would be agreeable to that kind of letter. Mr. Portune stated he would like to make that request instead of the Policy Committee. If the issue continues to come up and he thinks short of having some sort of representation from the office a letter to Mike Allen should be sent. A more in depth discussion ensued regarding specifics of different parties' responsibilities surrounding the formation of an Environmental Court. Mr. Portune asked if an exact number of violations/cases per year could be obtained for the next meeting. Mr. Aluotto stated that he could obtain the information. Dr. O'Reilly directed Staff to specifically contact Norwood, Blue Ash, and Cheviot as well.
Mr. Aluotto stated the District had its first EPP Task Force meeting and it went very well. Participants included Public Works, Facilities, Purchasing, Jobs and Family Services and the Engineer's Office. As information is gathered at future EPP meetings, the Policy Committee will be informed.
Mr. Aluotto stated that the District has a partnership with the National Association of PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) to assist them with a clean-up of the stadium to help divert plastic bottles to a recycling source. District staff will be present at Cinergy Field tonight after the game to assist in plastic collection. A brief discussion ensued regarding the Red's Recycling moments and Mr. Aluotto stated that a report will be issued to the Policy Committee once complete.
Mr. Aluotto stated that the District is in the process of assisting the CPS in constructing a first grade curriculum guide focusing on solid waste and recycling. The goal of the guide is to lay a foundation for respecting the natural environment through a knowledge of solid waste and recycling. The guide has been field tested and meets Ohio science standards. Eventually, this program will ensure that every child in CPS will be exposed to solid waste and recycling issues in the first grade.
Mr. Aluotto stated that the Policy Committee had a fact sheet summarizing the residential mercury thermometer exchange program. The District collected approximately 4,500 mercury thermometers. Health Commissioner Ingram also served as spokesperson for that program on several occasions.
Mr. Aluotto stated that the 2002 Computer Collection Event was extremely successful. Last year, the District collected about 50 tons; this year, the District collected over 120 tons of computers and electronic equipment. Mr. Aluotto passed around photos of the event. A brief discussion occurred regarding the final destination of the computers. VII. TENTATIVE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Mr. Aluotto stated that Ms. Kellner has been working on several waste assessments and she will be giving a presentation. As requested earlier by Mr. Portune, the District will be compiling specific recommendations from both HHM reports. VIII. POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS' COMMENTS IX. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments at this time. X. UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETINGS
The meeting was adjourned by acclamation at 3:37 pm. |
