Item 8.1 Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority Delegation presented the report under item 11.2, being the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority 2017 and 2018 Budget Approval report.
Mr. Maodus provided a brief overview of the process undertaken for the EWSWA budget approval including the dispute resolution procedure. He noted that the EWSWA budget was only binding once it had been approved by the EWSWA Board, Essex County Council and the City of Windsor Council.
Mr. Maodus noted that the dispute resolution procedure took place over the course of 2017. He noted the report before Council had an appended report co-authored by the City of Windsor CAO Onorio Colucci and County of Essex CAO Robert Maisonville which included the recommendation regarding the 2017 and 2018 for County Council's consideration
Mr. McDermott requested the recommendation be split into separate motions and voted on separately.
Mr. Santos expressed that large increases in the budget are unpalatable but when considering the long term effect that zero increases present, it becomes evident that a plan for managing the reserves and their use to mitigate the rates over the long term is necessary. He noted it has been fortunate that for unforeseen reasons, the reduction in expenditures or the increased revenue had offset the amount that would have been required in the budget for 2017, but noted that was not a sustainable situation. He questioned what was the plan for managing the reserves going forward?
Mr. Maodus noted that the plan was to proceed as recommended by the City and County CAOs and to formulate a sustainable plan for the use of the reserves so that they are at optimal balances and that the rate stabilization reserve, in particular, was not exhausted prematurely.
Discussion took place with regard to establishing a long-term plan for the EWSWA reserves over the 6-10 year time frame. It was noted that the extended dispute resolution process was to ensure that all parties were keenly aware of the importance of maintaining the reserves at optimal balances while working to ensure that municipalities are assessed amounts that would sustainably support the operations of the Authority.
Discussion took place regarding the upcoming changes to the blue box program and how those changes may impact operations of the Authority.
Mr. McNamara expressed a duty to ensure that the Regional Landfill was treated as a protected asset and that municipalities take financial responsibility for the true cost of operating the site.
Mr. Santos questioned how the greenhouse vines have been managed in the budget, since there has not been any real commitment from the industry to bring the vines to the Authority.
Ms. Bishop indicated that greenhouse vines have been included in projections for 'episodic waste' along with contaminated soil and other waste of that unpredictable nature and further she noted that the Authority had included the revenue from this source conservatively, but reports to the EWSWA Board quarterly on this issue.