VASSALBORO: Transfer station group begins redesign project

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro’s transfer station task force members had two projects on their Jan. 4 meeting agenda.

The first is the beginning of a redesign of the transfer station facility on Lombard Dam Road, involving outside expertise. The second is an update of the town’s Transfer Station Ordinance, an in-house project.

In the fall of 2023, Town Manager Aaron Miller sought requests for proposals for engineering services for the redesign. The request asked engineering firms to provide information on “permitting, design and cost estimates for a 60-foot by 80-foot transfer station building,” either “an open-ended Quonset steel building or a steel-pole barn structure.”

He received one response, from Camden-based Senders science, engineering & construction. At their Nov. 30 meeting, select board members referred the proposal to the transfer station task force.

They also decided to invite company head Jeff Senders to inspect the current facility and meet with the task force or select board, and to pay him for his time. Miller told the Jan. 4 meeting Senders is willing to come without pay.

Task force members agreed they should ask Senders to inspect the transfer station, and to take time to digest his findings before returning to discuss them with the task force. Miller is to propose possible January dates for Sender’s visit and report back.

Miller and the two select board members on the task force, Chris French and Michael Poulin, hope to make progress on the issue before they get involved in 2024-25 budget discussions, scheduled to start in February in preparation for a June town meeting.

Task force member Amy Davidoff said she and transfer station manager George Hamar had worked on revisions to Vassalboro’s 1988 Solid Waste Ordinance, starting by renaming it the Solid Waste and Recycling Ordinance.

The ordinance is complemented by a solid waste manual, which Miller said will be on Vassalboro’s website. Part of the discussion was over what information belonged in which document.

Task force members reviewed the beginning of the ordinance section on definitions, asking questions and offering suggestions.

Whatever ordinance changes the task force recommends, select board members will have Vassalboro’s town attorney review them and will hold a public hearing on them before voters are asked to approve or reject them.

Task force meetings are open to the public. The next meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, in the town office meeting room.