China transfer station committee continues improvement talks

by Mary Grow

Members of China’s Transfer Station Committee and station manager Thomas Maraggio discussed plans for continued improvements at their Aug. 13 meeting.

An ongoing issue is items for which the station charges a fee, because it costs the town extra to get rid of them. The list (which is on the town website, chinamaine.org) includes furniture; refrigerators and other appliances that contain freon; computers and other electronics; lamps; and brush.

Users leave some of these items at the free for the taking building, and are annoyed when they are asked to pay the appropriate fee anyway. Maraggio said if someone takes the item while the prior owner is still there, the fee is refunded.

But, he said, not all items are in demand; and, building volunteer and committee member Rachel Anderson added, space is limited. Maraggio said staff clean up the area twice a week; obviously unusable items go immediately to the appropriate disposal area, doubtful ones are left for two weeks to find a new owner.

Anderson did not think a larger building was a solution; it would only attract more junk. She suggested outside display shelves or tables from spring through fall.

Anderson and others recommend people consider donating large items to Goodwill, or putting them on front lawns with a “Free” sign.

Committee chairman J. Christopher Baumann recommended more signage closer to the entrance, and better publicity through the China Connected newsletter and other sources, telling people what they need to pay for, and why, before or as they arrive.

Committee member Benjamin Weymouth suggested an informational handout distributed with annual transfer station stickers. Maraggio and Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said there are existing handouts.

Maraggio plans a building near the entrance for the sand that China residents are allowed in winter storms; he suggested informational signs on the building. (The town website says China residents may take two five-gallon buckets of sand per storm. Palermo residents get sand from their sand/salt shed on North Palermo Road.)

Reporting on recent developments, Maraggio said the three days staff checked access passes at the gate found general compliance, did not lead to delays and annoyed only a few people. Staff plan spot checks in the future.

The lighting at the free for the taking building, and the new concrete compost pad, are installed, Maraggio said. The compost policy has been revised: compost will still be free, but, due to potential liability, staff cannot help China and Palermo residents load it.

Hapgood and Palermo committee member Robert Kurek said they are “making progress” on a revised agreement to let Palermo residents continue to use China’s facility. A draft revision is almost ready for review by the two towns’ attorneys.

Hapgood sent Palermo the required year’s notice of intent to dissolve the current agreement last fall, after a series of problems with Palermo residents, mostly their refusal to buy and use the required blue bags.

She and Kurek, and the respective town office staff members and transfer station staff, continue to spend time tracking down offenders, but the situation has improved. Committee members briefly discussed ways to deal with repeat offenders, agreeing that in most cases, fines were preferable to denying access to the facility.

Transfer station committee members scheduled their next meeting for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10.