Select Board selects local engineers for recycling‑building design; transfer‑station operations and container needs discussed

The Tamworth Select Board voted June 24 to engage HEB Engineers (with ALBA architects as subconsultant) to advance the design for a proposed recycling/transfer station building and to prepare bid‑ready documents. Town staff said the selection followed an RFP and that HEB was the local firm with the most relevant on‑site knowledge. Sanborn Head had earlier provided conceptual work but proposed an amended contract at roughly double the town’s available amount; Select Board members decided to shift to a qualified local firm in the RFP pool.

Board discussion covered building options (prefab metal buildings, pre‑engineered structures such as Morton/Wharton, and wood‑frame with steel skin), foundation and footing design, door sizes and roof slopes (constructability details that affect cost), and whether the existing slab can be reused (engineers advised a footing would be required for a building). The board heard advice that pre‑engineered buildings often include standardized engineered foundation plans that can reduce design cost.

The transfer station operating discussion included: recent success with the new ground‑level compactor (which has reduced container‑swap backups), a need to replace some leaking or deteriorated containers (quotes for new containers were discussed), and whether to buy containers or continue rental arrangements with waste vendors. Staff reported Waste Management occasionally supplies temporary containers if town units are unavailable but that owned containers can be higher quality and reduce service interruptions.

Select Board members and the transfer‑station manager discussed a possible on‑site scale to measure incoming loads and the pros and cons (administrative complexity and cost versus more consistent charges). Staff said most brush and construction debris is handled by volume estimates; officials aired the need to standardize a published fee schedule (pickup‑truck load, trailer, cubic‑yard equivalent) and to clarify what constitutes a chargeable load. The board deferred any immediate large purchases but approved the HEB design contract so engineering could proceed and the building could be put out to bid this year if the schedule permits.

Next steps: Contract with HEB for design, evaluate prefab building options (and associated foundation engineering), identify and procure replacement containers as needed, and produce a clear fee schedule for brush and construction debris for future public notice.