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Public works proposes narrowing town leaf pickup to a single fall window to free staff for infrastructure work
Summary
Public works recommended limiting municipal leaf pickup to a single, scheduled fall window (about four weeks) instead of an extended multi-week program; boards agreed to support narrower schedule and better public notification.
Public works staff recommended narrowing Skowhegan’s municipal leaf pickup to a shorter, scheduled fall window rather than the extended multi‑week pickups currently practiced.
Why it matters: Public works said current multi‑week leaf collection consumes crew time and heavy equipment needed for other infrastructure tasks (drain cleaning, manhole work, ditching). Staff said many residents rely on the service year after year, and inconsistent placement of leaves on streets has led to repeated routes and overtime.
Proposed approach: Staff proposed a single, published fall pickup (for example, four weeks) with specific street schedules. The department would continue to respond to storm‑damage collections and agreed exceptions, but routine collections would be limited to the scheduled period. The board discussed targeted assistance for seniors and public notification methods, including the town’s mass-notification system.
Next steps: Public works will propose a formal schedule and notification plan and ask the selectmen to approve the timing and public-education campaign.
