Hostility At Southington Transfer Station: Officials

SOUTHINGTON, CT — It appears users of the Southington transfer station have been less-than-polite with staffers who work there.

In fact, the behavior of the public toward town employees at 617 Old Turnpike Road, Plantsville, was the topic of Southington Town Council member Michael Del Santo's report on the council's public works subcommittee.

Speaking at the council meeting last week, Del Santo — citing Southington Director of Public Works/Town Engineer Annette S. Turnquist — reported that residents have been "somewhat hostile towards staff at the transfer stateion."

Del Santo called the situation "a little troubling."

Del Santo said transfer station workers are doing their jobs, which is a bit more difficult as the dumping companies hired by the town to haul refuse away are urging folks to properly dispose their items in the proper place.

If materials are not in the correct bins, then that costs that town time and money as the companies must do that themselves.

Ultimately, town officials said, that will cost the taxpayers money in the form of higher transfer station fees.

According to Del Santo, transfer station users should "be nice" and if there is a problem, raise those issues with the town council and/or town staff.

"They're getting a really hard time, so we thought it would be a good idea to just remind residents to be nice," Del Santo said.

"Don't give the staff up there a hard time. It's already tough enough as it is."

Councilman Christopher Palmieri suggested, perhaps, a one-page pamphlet on transfer station do's and don'ts go out when folks next renew their transfer station stickers in March.

It was an idea endorsed by Del Santo, who is chairman of the council's public works subcommittee.

Ultimately, Del Santo said he hopes the atmosphere at the transfer station can improve for both workers and users.

"It's been pretty bad the last couple of months," he said.

For the minutes of the Aug. 14 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.

For more information on the Southington Transfer Station, click on this link.