General News: Town Discuss Concerns About New Trash Deal
July 07, 2011
The Cornwall town board appears ready to take it slow before approving any contract with the Taylor Biomass Energy Company that is trying to get 20-year agreements with municipalities in Orange County to dispose of their solid waste.
On Monday, board members raised concerns about various parts of the proposed contract, which Biomass officials were pushing to have signed by the end of June. The town board voted to send a letter of intent to Taylor Biomass last month.
Supervisor Kevin Quigley said he didn’t like the 2.25 percent annual price increases that the town would have to accept, pushing the cost near $70 a ton by the time the plant fully comes online in 2014. Currently Taylor is offering initial terms of $66 a ton.
In addition, the town’s attorney pointed to several other sticking points in the proposed agreement, including a requirement to have all disputes settled by an arbitrator in New York City and another that forces a municipality to accept the outcome of a dispute even if not originally filed by that municipality.
Attorney Dominic Cordisco also pointed out that Taylor Biomass would get to determine what is acceptable waste, and if they find it unacceptable, to add a surcharge. Councilman Al Mazzocca noted that the town couldn’t get out of the contract for 20 years.
“We are still interested, but we have concerns,” said councilwoman Mary Beth Greene Krafft of the proposal to contract with Taylor Biomass’s innovative system that will turn solid waste into electrical power. “If this works, they’ll be back,” added councilman Randy Clark. “If they want our garbage now, they’ll love us in five years.”
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