County may pay for MOSA shortfall

By KERRY McAVOY, The Leader-Herald
FONDA — The Montgomery-Otsego-Schoharie Solid Waste Management Authority said Montgomery County may foot the bill for a garbage shortage.

In accordance with the contract with MOSA the county will have to pay a $174,438 shortage fee. The county was supposed to deliver 43,722 tons to MOSA, but fell short last year. MOSA Board member Olga Podmajersky said the county was behind by 4,269 tons in 2007.

MOSA Executive Director Gilbert L. Chichester said Otsego and Schoharie counties both had overages for last year.

In accordance with the agreement, the overages would go toward Montgomery County’s shortage. Even with the overage amounts, Montgomery County still falls short.

“There is a provision in the service agreement between the county and the authority that if there is shortfall [there is] a potential penalty,” Chichester said.

Podmajersky said Otsego was over by 407 tons and Schoharie by 2,100.

Chichester said rates are determined by historical deliveries. He said the other counties are seeing similar rates.

One potential reason is the buyout of several trash companies last year.

Chichester said the purchasing company may not have been bringing the trash to the MOSA sites. Podmajersky said County Waste doesn’t bring its trash to the MOSA facility. She said this is one of the major reasons the county fell short of its goal.

“Some of the shortage is [because] County Waste has been taking waste out of the system. So not as much is being delivered. That contributes towards it,” Podmajersky said.

Amsterdam Town Supervisor Tom DiMezza said with private trash services being bought up by County Waste MOSA should change the formula used. He said the system is arbitrary and something needs to be done.

“How can you continue to charge the same as in previous years if the trash can’t be delievered,” DiMezza said.

She said the county does not have to pay the $58.78 per ton transportation fee since they ship their own waste. They do however pay a $99 per ton tip fee.

The $174,438 total was arrived at by multiplying the missing tons by the tip fee Podmajersky said. She said her number comes to $174,438 since the missing tons minus the other two counties shortfalls come to around 1,762. MOSA then multiplies that by 99 and gets the total of $174,438 Podmajersky said.

Another shortfall is possible again this year. According to the guaranteed annual tonnage calculator, Montgomery County should produce 45,333 tons of waste this year.

Last year the tonnage was 43,722. MOSA is calling for a 3.68 percent increase in tonnage this year.

Podmajersky said with the data she has, the county is behind 1,233 tons from January to the end of February for this year. She said she has spoken with a few supervisors about this year’s expected shortage.

“There are a number of options to discuss and it will require some planning. There is no quick fix. It will take a while to implement,” Chichester said.

He said the county has 60 days to pay the bill. Chichester said it would be paid by county funding. Podmajersky said she has spoken with Jackie Meola of the county about the bill she has received.

Chichester said he has yet to hear from any town supervisors about the bill.

DiMezza said the county will more than likely not continue their relationship with MOSA after their contract is up in 2014.

“In six years we’ll be done. At that point we will have to figure out what we can do with the garbage. It is very expensive for the county. Unless they make it cost effective, I don’t see it continuing after 2014,” DiMezza said.



Kerry McAvoy covers Montgomery County. She can be reached at montco@leaderherald.com.