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Ulster County advances several appointments, hears UCRA candidate interviews and approves contract amendment
Summary
The committee advanced reappointments to the Environmental Management Council, confirmed UCRA appointment resolutions to the floor with TBD appointee slots, approved a contract amendment, and interviewed several candidates for Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency seats, with broad discussion about landfill siting and zero‑waste goals.
The Ulster County Energy, Environment and Sustainability Committee on Dec. 9 advanced multiple personnel actions, approved a contract amendment, and held interviews for the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency (UCRA) board.
The committee confirmed reappointments for several Environmental Management Council members (resolutions 5‑72 and 5‑73) by voice vote. It also approved Resolution 5‑74, a contract amendment of $19,950 with Barton & Loguidice D.P.C., which brings the aggregate contract amount over $50,000.
For UCRA board business, the committee conducted candidate interviews for two seats to be filled at the Dec. 16 legislative session. Applicants who spoke included Poppy Cannon Reese, Trevor Kerwin, Chris Robert, Stephanie Irwin, and incumbent Donna Egan. Answers focused on the county’s 10‑year solid waste management plan (adopted 2020, approved by the Legislature in 2021), the agency’s zero‑waste implementation plan, and local options for handling decreasing export capacity.
Candidates emphasized outreach, reuse and repair, composting expansion and regional cooperation. Trevor Kerwin, who works in energy and renewables, said the county should view waste as a resource and consider regional coalitions for siting landfill or diversion facilities. Several applicants urged more public education and suggested reuse innovation centers and expanded composting to boost diversion. Donna Egan, an incumbent and vice chair of the agency board, highlighted operational accomplishments including mattress recycling efforts and ongoing work on a ‘repower’ reuse/innovation project.
On the question of siting a landfill in Ulster County, opinions varied: some candidates and officials said a landfill should remain an option and be explored regionally; others said landfill investment should be limited and prioritized for diversion, reuse and repair programs. Manager O’Green (agency leadership) told the committee that a well‑sited and well‑managed landfill could be less onerous if organics and difficult streams are removed and diversion increases; he noted the agency spends about $11 million annually exporting waste.
Two confirmations to the UCRA were advanced from committee with the appointee slot left as “TBD” to be amended on the floor (Resolutions 5‑70 and 5‑71). Committee members also discussed timing of interviews and the importance of geographic diversity on board seats.
What happens next: The confirmed reappointments and contract amendment will move to the Legislature floor; UCRA appointment resolutions will be amended on the floor to insert appointee names and considered at the Dec. 16 session. The agency also scheduled a special meeting to review RFP presentations for mixed‑waste diversion technology and will hold pop‑up e‑waste recycling events in January.
