Sorensen lone dissenter on landfill resolutions

By Dan Hust
MONTICELLO — February 26, 2008 — Following up on his campaign promise to scrutinize activities associated with the county landfill, District 9 Legislator Alan Sorensen voted against two landfill-related resolutions at Thursday’s full Legislature meeting.
Both “no’s” were the only dissenting votes on the resolutions – one to approve the renewal of a $130,000 contract with Cornerstone Environmental Group to report on the air quality and related landfill gas odor controls, and the other to let Sullivan Renaissance dump up to 270 tons of debris free of charge at the landfill.
Though told by Division of Public Works Commissioner Bob Meyer that Cornerstone’s services are required by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, Sorensen – in whose district the landfill sits – could not agree to a simple renewal of the contract, instead seeking another round of competitive bids.
As for Renaissance’s Municipal Cleanup Program, he said he’d rather see such construction and demolition debris be exported than put in the ever-shrinking landfill. In fact, Sorensen had already found an alternative at a landfill in Painted Post (next to Corning), where the material could be shipped and dumped for about half the cost the county would otherwise be swallowing to aid Renaissance.
Other legislators pointed out that as much of Renaissance’s debris as possible would be recycled and that the necessary paperwork was already under way, but Sorensen was adamant that money, rather than landfill space, should be allocated to aid Renaissance, a beautification program for which he stated his support.
Fellow Republican and District 6 Legislator Jodi Goodman said she agreed with Sorensen but wanted to avoid the perception that the county would be paying to transport another organization’s trash.
“It would turn people against the Renaissance program,” she said.
Apparently unconvinced, Sorensen again cast the lone “no” vote, but both resolutions nevertheless passed.