Solid Waste District May Receive Free Senior Help

ADAMS, Mass. — The Northern Berkshire Solid Waste Management District may utilize the senior worker program to ease the transition to a new program coordinator.

Program Coordinator Sandy Totter told the commissioners Thursday that the district may be able to hire a senior that she can teach before her retirement at the end of the year. This senior would still be on board when the district hires a new coordinator.

"If we could get such a person lined up to be in our office that person would be here when the new coordinator comes on," Totter said. "I could teach that senior worker how to do the paperwork and somewhat how to deal with the public so there will be some continuity in the office."

Totter said the program is federally funded and the district could have extra help for 20 hours a week. The worker could potential stay on for two years if the district can provide career education.

Totter said the senior citizen she has been in contact with has an office background but would have to be taught computer skills. She thinks this would fit the criteria.

This could potentially save consultant fees and the district may not have to bring her back as much to help the new coordinator.

With someone constantly in the office, Totter said she would be free to work out in the field more and take off saved up time she has acquired before her retirement.

Peru representative Peter Loboda said an extra person in the office would just be more responsible.

"I think it is even a more responsible way to do business because if our coordinator, heaven forbid, got hit by a bus we would now be able go ahead ... and have a way to keep the office going," Loboda said. "Having two people in there is just more efficient."

The commissioners voted to allow Totter to look into the program and sign up if possible.  

"It is a no-brainer if it works out and if it doesn't work out there is still no cost," Lanesborough representative Joseph Szczepaniak Jr said. "We aren't going to lose anything."

As for the budget, Totter said towns should expect an increase in assessments by 50 cents per person. Adams, the largest town in the district, will see an increase from $21,551.90 to $25,794.40.

She said the bulk of this comes from the 14 percent increase in health insurance and that the district has to continue to fund her insurance as well as provide funding for a possible family plan for the new coordinator.

"You don't know if the person coming in will need a family plan or single plan, but you must be prepared to pay for a family plan," she said. "You might hire someone who doesn't need health insurance at all or with single insurance ... it's a jump because of the transition."

The commission will vote on the budget next meeting.

In other business, Totter said the state Senate recently passed a Paint Stewardship bill, currently in the House, that would dramatically decrease the price of paint removal because it would force manufacturers to pay the cost.

"It wouldn't cover everything because it wouldn't cover spray paint, but it covers darn close to everything," Totter said.

Currently the budget has $9,000 allocated for paint removal.

The commission also voted to increase the removal rate for tires 20 inches and over from $4 to $8. Its costs the district $8 to remove the tires and the increase would balance the cost.

Also, the commission gave Totter permission to purchase a 30 yard roll off to store paper for $6,358.

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