County discusses recycling changes
By Donna Comella 

On Tuesday, Macedon Supervisor Bill Hammond ran afoul of other county supervisors when he tried to introduce a resolution that had not been included on the agenda. Late in the meeting, he wanted to establish a committee to study 'single-stream recycling' - a process that would eliminate separation of recycling materials. Currently, county residents separate their recyclables that are then picked up with compartmentalized trucks. The program is run by the Western Finger Lakes Solid Waste Management Authority, but supervisors have been criticized by some who think the county's $1 million-plus annual contributions have been too much.

Hammond's plan was to consider having private haulers collect the recyclables for single-stream recycling that would eliminate the need for compartments on the trucks and further separation at the Material Recovery Facility in Arcadia.

Without discussing the merits of Hammond's proposal, Frank Guelli (Walworth) told his colleague that he thought it 'inappropriate' to offer the resolution without having passed it through the proper committees. Hammond told him, 'I think I can bring anything to the board at any time...'

Dave Spickerman (Butler), who heads the county's Planning Committee, agreed with Guelli. '...To just pop up with a resolution is totally out of line.'

It was then that Sharon Lilla was asked to speak on the subject. Lilla, who heads the County Planning Department and the Waste Authority, said that to change to single-stream recycling would mean that more materials would head to the landfill. She assured them that to mix materials would cause contamination. 'Ninety percent of all materials that come to our facility are recycled. We have the trust of the people in mind. We don't have a profit motive.'

She told supervisors that she was not opposed to getting information from the private sector, but encouraged them to learn more about single-stream.

Hammond read his resolution that would form a committee 'to investigate and study modern processes...and report its findings and any cost savings and benefits back to the board.'

He told them, 'All I want to do is cut county costs. Maybe I'm on my own here.'

Guelli tried to table the resolution and refer it to the Planning Committee before the board could even vote to allow it on the floor.

After a brief instruction on procedure from County Attorney Dan Wyner, the board voted against allowing the resolution to be presented. Only three voted to let it to the floor for discussion: Hammond, Jody Bender (Marion), and Dave Lyon (Palmyra).

Hammond told them he thought it a shame they hadn't even considered saving over a million dollars.

Finance Committee head Don Colvin (Savannah) told him that the board should discuss it, but that it should first be referred to committee. Charles Frederick (Huron) agreed, saying that procedures should be followed.

Also at Tuesday's meeting:

Lawmakers agreed to accept bids for repairs to the Old County Courthouse in Lyons. Macedon Supervisor Bill Hammond opposed two of the resolutions, suggesting that the county could get lower bids if they waited until construction season slowed.

The repair work for the wrought iron railing in front of the Lyons property will be done by LaGasse Iron Works of Lyons ($9,614); The Pike Company of Rochester will replace the flagpole on the courthouse dome ($19,600); and Heaster Building Restoration will do the masonry work ($105,000). Total cost of the repairs to the historic courthouse are just under $135,000.

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