Northwest Hills COG affirms support for public ownership of Torrington transfer station; urges towns to join new regional authority

The Northwest Hills Council of Governments on July 10 voted by consensus to continue providing technical and legal support for the Northwest Regional Resources Authority’s effort to keep the Torrington transfer station in public hands and urged member towns to join the NRRA by passing concurrent ordinances.

Executive Director Rob reported that, effective July 1, permitting for regional waste operations transferred to the NRRA and that the former managing entity (referred to in the meeting as the MDA) has ceased operations. Rob said hauler agreements needed revision before the transfer of authority and that the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) is currently operating the facility. The COG’s prior budget includes a $25,000 line for MSW technical and legal resources; staff asked the council whether to continue using those funds to support NRRA-startup work and related legal review.

The issue matters because the transfer station is a permitted, operating facility that serves multiple small towns across Litchfield County. Council members and town officials said losing public control could lead to the site being sold to a private operator and to service disruptions or higher costs for member towns.

Discussion and context

Council members described a complex, short-term transition that culminated in DAS taking day-to-day control on July 1. Rob and other participants said there was a “flurry” of activity in the days before the handoff to update and return hauler agreements; some agreements were returned but revised versions drafted by DAS had not yet been provided to the COG staff for review. The executive director recommended continued follow-up and, if necessary, use of Freedom of Information requests to obtain those revised agreements.

Multiple participants urged towns that may ultimately use the NRRA to join now. Rob explained the governance mechanics: voting rights on the NRRA board will be determined by concurrent ordinances that member municipalities adopt. Staff also emphasized that future decisions about operations, recycling programs and shared regional services will be made by the NRRA board once it is seated.

Financial and operational concerns

Mayors and other officials pressed for clarity about costs. Several participants noted the transfer station’s monthly operating shortfall under prior management: testimony reported that disposal fees historically covered roughly half of operating costs and that the facility had relied on outside revenue streams (solar leases, billboard leases and other non-disposal revenues) and a tip-fee stabilization fund to cover the remainder. Council members said those outside revenues may not be available to a new operator and that towns with very different tonnages (some small towns versus larger towns) will face equity and cost-allocation questions.

Several participants said the COG has already identified potential savings — including cuts to overhead — and that, over the longer term, a competitive procurement for services once existing contracts expire could reduce operating costs. But multiple mayors warned that any private sale or closure of the current facility could force short-notice hauling to more distant sites.

Household hazardous waste (HHW) event and vendor issues

Rob reported on the COG’s June 21 HHW collection event at the Falls Village town garage. The event processed about 300 vehicles and used MXI as the vendor for collections. Rob said MXI generally performed well but did not lay down plastic sheeting at the site, which led to some small spills that event staff cleaned; he said the COG would press the vendor to improve on-site containment for future events.

Rob also described one atypical incident: an attendee brought free elemental mercury (apparently loose, in a jar). According to Rob, MXI initially refused to accept the item because disposal is costly (Rob said mercury disposal can run about $700 per pound); state and contractor contacts were engaged. The COG will accept such materials at future events but said it needs to resolve how to manage the high disposal cost.

Next steps and board direction

After discussion, the council heard a motion-like request from staff to continue using existing RSG/RPIA-funded technical and legal resources to support NRRA formation, review hauler agreements and pursue public acquisition options for Torrington’s transfer station. Chair Dan Jerram asked whether any member objected to continuing prior directions; none did. The body recorded the decision as a continuation of prior board direction (consensus). Staff will keep the full COG updated on budget impacts, provide lists of next steps and town-level background materials, and contact town boards about passing the concurrent ordinance needed to join the NRRA.

Speakers

Executive Director Rob — staff member (executive director, Northwest Hills COG) Dan Jerram — chair (Northwest Hills COG) Brian Bartram — (participant/public official; requested reconvening of recycling advisory committee) Ristad — (participant) Attorney Zabel — (legal counsel, referenced as working with the COG) Joe Mazzarella — (Enviro representative) Mayor Carbone — (mayor; spoke in support of acquisition) Other participants — several mayors, selectpersons and town representatives (names recorded in the transcript)

Authorities referenced

House Bill 5002 — other — referenced_by:["executive director report re: state budget and positions"] DAS (Department of Administrative Services) — other — referenced_by:["transfer of operations to DAS"] NRRA (Northwest Regional Resources Authority) — other — referenced_by:["permitting and governance change effective July 1"] MDA (previous managing authority, referenced as dissolved) — other — referenced_by:["organization that ceased to exist prior to July 1"] RPIA / RSG funds (regional service grant funding source) — grant — referenced_by:["funding for positions and MSW technical/legal resources"]

Clarifying details

{ "category":"HHW event vehicles","detail":"Vehicles processed at June 21 HHW event","value":300,"units":"vehicles","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Executive Director Rob" } { "category":"mercury disposal cost","detail":"Contractor-stated disposal cost for elemental mercury","value":700,"units":"USD per pound","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Executive Director Rob" } { "category":"MSW legal/technical budget","detail":"Amount set aside in COG budget for MSW technical and legal resources","value":25000,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Executive Director Rob" }

Community relevance

Geographies: Torrington; Falls Village; Litchfield County; North Canaan; member towns across the Northwest Hills COG region. Impact groups: municipal taxpayers; town public works departments; haulers; residents relying on local transfer-station access. Funding sources: RSG / RPIA regional service grant funds, tip-fee stabilization funds, lease revenues (historical).

Meeting context

Engagement level: high — extended discussion with multiple mayors, legal counsel and staff participants; staff requested direction on continuing previously authorized technical/legal support. Implementation risk: medium — acquisition and operation depend on NRRA startup, town ordinances and future funding decisions. History: item discussed at prior meetings; the COG previously budgeted funds and approved legal services for related MSW work.

Searchable tags:["MSW","NRRA","Torrington transfer station","household hazardous waste","HHW","hauler agreements","DAS","regional recycling"]

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