FONDA - Trash was on the table for discussion Tuesday when the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors met to discuss how the county will be affected by Otsego County's plan to leave the Montgomery-Otsego-Schoharie Solid Waste Authority.
The purpose of the meeting was to let board members know where Montgomery County stands in relation to Otsego County's preparations to pull out.
"Over the last couple of years, we've talked a little bit about solid waste plans or talked [about an] economic development plan," Board of Supervisors Chairman Shayne T. Walters said.
"In 2014, no matter what, there will be a change," Walters said.
MOSA Executive Director Dennis Heaton was on hand to brief the board. Heaton said 21 months are left until the service agreement ends in May 2014. This would force Schoharie and Montgomery counties to try and plan what they would do in the meantime if Otsego succeeds in pulling out.
The main question that kept creeping up during the meeting was when Montgomery County should leave MOSA.
Dominick Stagliano, supervisor for the town of St. Johnsville, said if Otsego pulls out of MOSA, he would vote to pull out as well.
"Don't we already know one of the participants doesn't want to be involved?" Thomas Quackenbush, supervisor for the town of Minden, asked.
Among MOSA's holdings are two transfer stations in Montgomery County, in Sprakers and Amsterdam. Also, two landfills are in Montgomery County and need to be taken care of by Montgomery County. Otsego refused the idea of taking ownership of any landfills.
Otsego originally wanted to pull out by the end of June this year, Walters said, but the prospect of that was unrealistic. Otsego is now hoping to be out of MOSA by the end of April 2013, Walters said.
Regardless of when Otsego manages to leave, the service contract with MOSA will run out by May 2014.
Walters was confused by Otsego's wish to leave, stating it made no real financial sense. Walters also advocated an aggressive dealing with the issue, citing Otsego's own aggressive negotiations with Montgomery County.
Heaton also reported the six members of the MOSA board are in a deadlock in discussions.
"If you decide that you're going to leave MOSA, we need to have a solid waste plan in place," Root Supervisor John Thayer said. "We should have started on this last year. May of '14 is going to be here before we know. This board needs to decide."
Heaton said if Montgomery County goes on its own after this business is cleared up, Montgomery County can either write its own plan or hire a consultant. The only requirement in place is that it is approved by the state. He also said the county is required to have a solid waste plan in place.
MOSA is perpetual, Heaton said, and will last until someone dissolves the authority.
The meeting ended with an open discussion planned for the next general services committee meeting Aug. 7.