News

Selectmen discuss Transfer Station
By Naomi Morrison

New Gloucester--Between junk yards and the transfer station, Monday night's New Gloucester Board of Selectmen meeting was mostly about garbage. Fees have changed, hours are different and the state junk yard law is being enforced.

The transfer station employee's primary concern is trash overflow on Saturday's. Two agenda items were voted on in an attempt to remedy this problem. The first was changing the transfer station hours; and the second, was to close the station when the hopper is at its maximum capacity.

After much consideration and discussion, the new hours were passed. Effective Tuesday, November 2, the transfer station hours are: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday's 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

While the Town Manager, Rosemary Kulow, and Selectmen Chair Steve Libby were focused on solving the stations primary concern, Selectmen Vice-Chair Stephanie Bryan used this opportunity to try making the transfer station more user friendly to New Gloucester citizens and remained opposed to the new hours. Left, Kulow.

"Friday being open isn't going to solve anything on Saturday," Bryan said, "I think we're going in the opposite direction than where we need to go... It's more user friendly to open earlier during the week for people who work."

Bryan had hoped for an 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. opening on Tuesdays and Thursdays and dropping two hours on Saturday evenings where use is low. She said this would enable working folks to go in the morning and evening users wouldn't be sacrificed. Closing earlier during the week isn't going to help alleviate Saturday's problem, she said, when 7 to 8 p.m. is a high use time for the station. Right, Bryan

Kulow and the other Selectmen didn't want to add another hour in the morning to the station attendants already long day. Selectman Kevin Sullivan said he isn't sure if these new hours will work, but would like to try them out and revisit the issue if it's not successful.

During discussion Libby said, "I don't recycle." When asked why after the meeting, he responded that "the state law requires that we recycle only at the transfer station." Due to time restraints, he cannot make it to the transfer station; therefore, disposes his trash at work.

The motion to close the station when the hopper is full died after two failed attempts to pass it. Bryan again initiated the position for fear of people turning to the streets to rid their trash if they were turned away at the dump. Selectmen Kevin Sullivan and David Lunt were in favor of closing the transfer station, but without Selectmen Lenora Conger present to break the tie, the motion died.

"I'm afraid if we've got posted hours and we turn someone away, it's just not good business," Libby said. "I would only close that facility [during posted hours] if there was an environmental issue." Left, Libby.

If the trash is stacked on the floor, it sits there until Monday, which is the first opportunity for it to be hauled, Kulow said. Her concern is for the health and safety of the town workers and any environmental issues that come with rubbish sitting there for an extended period of time.

Throughout the meeting Kulow's optimism of citizens being too concerned about the environment to throw trash on the street was shot down by the rest of the board. Both Libby and Sullivan expressed their concerns about the amount of bagged rubbish, tires and household items that are already found on the side of several roads in the town.

A long-term remedy is in the works, as Kulow will soon put out to bid a roll-off container to use in overflow situations.

JUNKYARDS BEING ENFORCED

New Gloucester's Code Enforcement Officer Debby Parks spoke to the board about enforcing the state junkyard law. She said that there are at least six residences that she would like to get cleaned up.

Communication as of yet has been positive, she said, with lack of money being the reason that the properties are not cleaned up. It's frustrating, said Parks, because even if legal action is taken, they just don't have the means to clean up.

The board would like to do everything possible before any legal action is taken. Libby said he wants the least amount of monetary effect on the town.

"The last resort would be to go on somebody's property without permission," said Libby.

The board approved having the town lawyer send a letter stating that legal action will be taken if their property is not cleaned up. Parks hopes that this letter will encourage the property owners to give the town permission to clean up. To repay the town's expenses, each resident will have to sign a payment schedule that is reasonable for their budgets and they're able to pay.

NEW DISPOSAL PRICES

Plywood - $2 per sheet (or attendants discretion for scrap pieces)
Tires:
tires without rim - $2 (up from $1.70)
racing tires - $2 (down from $2.25)
tires with rims - $3 (down from $3.40)

NEW HOURS

Effective Tuesday, November 2, the transfer station hours are:
Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fridays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday's 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.