DPW committee presents schematic for Old Chester Road transfer station, seeks Eversource land and curbside options

The Hebron Department of Public Works Action Committee (DPWAC) on Oct. 23 presented a near-final schematic design for a proposed public works complex and transfer station at the Old Chester Road site, reported the results of a Phase 2 environmental site assessment and asked the Board of Selectmen for direction to pursue related property and waste-handling steps ahead of a likely referendum in spring 2026.

Richard Steiner, a DPWAC member, summarized the environmental work: “Phase 2 environmental site assessment is complete. Again, all the samples are below any threshold, both federal and state.” That finding cleared a major technical hurdle and allowed the committee to press forward with design development, geotechnical testing and an initial schematic-cost estimate.

The schematic design shown to the boards and the public includes a combined administrative and vehicle-maintenance building with multiple service bays, a covered salt storage shed with an impermeable base, a separate septic system and a new animal-control/dog-kennel facility designed to meet current state standards. Committee presenters said the facility will separate pedestrian traffic from heavy equipment at the public transfer-station entrance and add emergency/rest facilities for DPW crews.

The DPWAC outlined the immediate next steps: completion of geotechnical borings and related testing in early November; a schematic-design cost estimate to follow; and a shift to design development after sign-off by on-site stakeholders. Committee members cautioned schematic estimates will include significant contingencies and that final construction pricing will be more precise at later design stages.

The committee also raised two operational issues the town needs to resolve before construction: how to handle municipal solid waste and recycling while the transfer station is temporarily inaccessible, and whether to pursue acquisition of adjacent Eversource-owned property for project flexibility and future needs.

On the waste question, DPWAC members said an interim curbside pickup contract or partnerships with neighboring towns are possible options. Presenters estimated the period of restricted access to the existing transfer station could be on the order of nine months to a year if construction proceeds, though they emphasized that schedule is uncertain and dependent on phasing decisions.

On Eversource land, the committee reported informal discussions indicating Eversource would consider a sale with a right-of-first-refusal process and that formal steps (appraisals and a purchase negotiation) would be required. The committee requested the Board of Selectmen instruct the town manager to pursue necessary appraisals and legal steps and to direct the Board of Finance to identify potential funding sources for any land purchase.

Committee members said they intend to bring a schematic-cost estimate to the boards in late winter; their goal, if the boards direct and the design proceeds, is to present a final plan to voters in March or April 2026. Presenters warned that the schematic estimate will include contingencies and that the committee cannot yet provide a reliable final figure.

Board members asked DPWAC to return with more detailed cost options for handling household waste during construction, including estimated costs for curbside pickup and alternative temporary arrangements. Without objection, the Selectmen instructed DPWAC to proceed with the Eversource inquiries and to obtain firm cost estimates or RFP responses on curbside/alternative waste handling, and told staff to return with results at a future meeting.

Why this matters: the project would replace aging DPW facilities, provide covered vehicle maintenance and a modern salt-storage system designed to limit environmental leaching, and alter how residents dispose of household trash and recycling for the duration of construction. The committee said the project addresses regulatory requirements for some building types (dog kennel, sanitary handling) and aims to reduce long-term maintenance liabilities for the town.

The DPWAC will present updated information at the December meeting and said it expects geotechnical results and a schematic-cost estimate soon after that. The board requested public education and frequent updates before any referendum so voters can compare alternatives and understand interim service impacts.