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FAYETTE — Selectmen have agreed that entering into a partnership with Readfield and Wayne for the operation of the Readfield transfer station will be the most costs-effective way for the town to dispose of its trash.
Town residents will consider that option at an April 3 special town meeting on how the town will dispose of its waste. The town started using a private hauler to bring trash to the Readfield transfer station July 1 after the town of Jay stopped accepting waste from other communities. The partnership would allow Readfield residents to bring their own trash to Readfield, or still use a private hauler.
Town Manager Mark Robinson said in a news release that the town office has received many calls and questions regarding the special town meeting. Robinson said that selectmen recommend the partnership option because, “Simply, partnership approval allows the same Fayette licensed haulers to serve you the way they do today and those haulers can continue under that agreement to haul your trash to Readfield also as they do today.
“The board have all agreed that this partnership with Readfield and Wayne provides the most reliable and efficient long-term solution to the ever-increasing problem for a significant majority of Fayette property owners of how to dispose of their trash, recyclables, yard waste, construction and demolition debris, bulky waste etc.,” Robinson said in the release.
Robinson said that, under the agreement, residents who use dumpsters or have roadside pickup would be able to continue to do so, but the cost will go up. “As was the case when our licensed haulers took our trash to Jay until that town withdrew that option, those residents who chose to retain a dumpster or roadside pick-up will continue to have a portion of their tax bill contribute to the town’s annual cost,” he said. He said the proportion amount will increase from about $25 per $100,000 assessment to $42.
He said the agreement will also allow residents who don’t use a hauler to bring their trash and recyclables to the Readfield transfer station at no additional cost. Other fees would be charged for items not considered household trash or recyclables, similar to the agreement with Jay.
Robinson said that some residents want to keep a private hauler because of the convenience, but also said they don’t want to see their tax increase. “Nobody wants to see property taxes increase, however trash disposal is not free and the board believes this partnership opportunity provides the best option,” Robinson said.
Robinson said that other issues, including liability for the town if it partners with Readfield, are addressed in the final draft of the agreement negotiated between the towns. A copy of the draft and other information can be found at www.readfield.govoffice.com.
A vote in favor of the agreement on April 3 will require the town to raise an additional $27,000 in the 2016-17 budget, Robinson said. A negative vote would require the town to “negotiate a minimum of three different contracts to address how we will dispose of household trash, recyclables and bulky waste.” He said a negative vote would also require the town to have roll-off containers at the Town Office/Public Works facility for bulky waste for items like tires, appliances, furniture electronics, and a separate one for recyclables that the haulers would use exclusively. Construction debris would be prohibited and residents would have to find their own means of disposal through private haulers at their own cost.
“These arrangements also do not provide the town of Fayette with representation as to the cost of these services or the longevity of that opportunity,” he said. “Comparatively, the collective costs of these options including additional manpower could possibly be done at lower cost than the partnership cost for this year, but it is more cumbersome, labor intensive and we do not believe reflects the service desired by residents.”
The special town meeting is 7 p.m., Monday, April 3, at Fayette Central School. All voters registered in the town may vote. Absentee ballots are not available for this vote.
