2020-01-22 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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DEM was able to keep the Finance Department from taking it and putting it into another pot. The money was used within the Solid Waste Division. It was redirected from recycling to provide basic services. The salaries of six new solid waste attendants and drivers, who were hired to try and mitigate the closures that have been happening, will come out of that $400,000. Vice Chair Olson said the goal was to keep it in recycling, and that purpose should remain. Chair Bennett called for a vote. Vote: All commissioners voted aye except for Commissioner Adams. Chair Bennett said he wanted County Council relations placed on the next meeting’s agenda, as sometimes councilmembers will ask him for information on matters that, per Corporation Counsel, are outside EMC’s purview. He has been having to work around that and would like to clear up the fuzziness. b. Election of Commission chair and vice chair for 2020. Vice Chair Olson said he is not in a position this year to take on more, and Commissioner Gaffney said he was not either. Commissioner Gaffney said that Commissioner Pequeño, when he spoke with him before, seemed to be willing, though he was unable to attend today’s meeting. Motion, second, and vote: Commissioner Gaffney nominated Vice Chair Olson as vice chair again, and Commissioner Fulton seconded the motion. All commissioners voted aye. Motion, second, and vote: Commissioner Gaffney nominated Commissioner Pequeño as chair, and Commissioner Fulton seconded the motion. All commissioners voted aye. 6. REPORTS/CORRESPONDENCE a. Chair’s informational update: A summary and reflection of his tenure on the Commission. Chair Bennett said that as his chairmanship passes, he has reflected on some wonderful successes of the Commission as it has evolved. He began four years ago, and there is a huge difference. He had hoped that as chair he would have the power to make changes across the county, but that was a pipe dream. He has some persistent ideas that remain and are emboldened today. He expressed his gratitude to the staff and acknowledged the secretary, Mary Fujio; Deputy Corporation Counsel Diana Mellon-Lacey, who he hopes appreciated when he had to push back; and Director William Kucharski. Director Kucharski has been the biggest fresh breath of bureaucratic air. He has two engineering degrees and vast experience, and he enjoys speaking with him as a scientific peer. In the beginning, Director Kucharski had a “we’ve