Madison Selectmen Take Action on Bulky Waste Site

According to recent Madison Board of Selectmen meeting minutes, the selectmen approved no changes to the hours of operation for the bulky waste site, but changes are possible next year, according to comments made at the meeting.

Several residents raised concerns about possible changes to the facility and a potential partnership with Guilford.

From meeting minutes:

Discuss and take action to adopt operation guidelines for the Bulky Waste Site.

DISCUSSION: First Selectman Fillmore McPherson proposed that there not be any changes in hours through the winter shutdown. The current hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday 7:30 am to 12:30 pm and Saturday 7:30 am through 3:15 p.m.

He did suggested changes to the items not accepted as follows:

• Construction debris, concrete, Grass Clippings, and Wood in excess of 4 inches diameter

Also, the payment schedule in place currently would not change. He also noted that the stumps at the site currently would be ground down for mulch and cleaned up. Recyclables will also continue to be accepted through the fall.

First Selectman McPherson also stated that the proposal for the future included a reduction in the number of days open, changes in payment options (cash not accepted) and a joint agreement with the Town of Guildford.

MOVED by First Selectman McPherson and seconded by Selectman Walker to APPROVE the interim operations schedule for the Bulky Waste Site.

VOTE: This motion was approved unanimously.

Prior to the selectmen’s vote there was a lengthy discussion on the topic, according to meeting minutes.

First Selectman McPherson noted that the Bulky Waste Site Operations would be discussed this evening and he stated that the proposal was to not make any changes to hours throughout the fall of 2015. With this in mind, he asked for any other public comments.

Elizabeth Inkster of Durham Road asked if any changes would be suggested in the future and if they would be voted on this evening.

First Selectman McPherson stated that this proposal was to wrap up the proposed changes by November 1, 2015, but not at this evening’s meeting. He indicated that he did not want to leave an item open after his retirement.

Ms. Inkster stated that she was opposed to any changes to the operations both now and in the future. She noted that other members of the public had spoken in the past regarding this matter and she noted that most of the business owners are relied upon by other residents for their services (i.e. landscaping, garbage, etc.).

She compared this item to the changes in the Downtown area currently being undertaken and detailed some of these upgrades as listed in The Source. She summarized that the priorities in Town were out of sync with the needs of the Town. Ms. Inkster also noted that the moving of services to Guilford “7 miles away” would be a burden to these business owners, in contrast to comments made by a Selectman at a prior meeting.

Ms. Inkster asked again that the Board reconsider any future changes to the hours of operation at the Bulky Waste Site as any change would greatly impact the small business owners.

Bill Nielson of Flintlock Road also referenced prior Selectman comments regarding the 7 mile trip to the Guilford site. He noted that if a resident is paying a business owner to make this trip, it will cost them more money as it will take the contractor more time, i.e. one hour versus only a few minutes. He cautioned that residents could also start putting recycling items in the regular trash in order to avoid the trip to Guilford.

Bill Leete of Hunters Trail stated that he has had a garbage business in town since 1984 and he uses the Bulky Waste Site several days per week, with Thursday being especially busy. He also noted that the site employees have been recording the usage at the site and he questioned what the final results were. Mr. Leete also stated that it doesn’t make sense to close a site which is being used every day that it is open. He suggested that perhaps a part-time employee could be placed at the site to cover the shifts that were left vacant due to the retirement of a prior employee. He noted that the cost of recycling services at this facility were minimal to the Town and should not be moved to Guilford.

Bill Kirby of Fortpath Road stated that having only one employee at the site is not effective. He related a story where a resident put items in the wrong bin because no employee was present to direct her.