Buckfield Select Board votes to remove unsafe transfer-station swap-shop structure, leaves future to solid-waste committee

Buckfield—s Select Board voted Sept. 22 to remove an empty swap-shop structure at the town transfer station, citing health, safety and liability concerns and directing the solid waste committee to recommend a path forward.

The decision followed more than an hour of discussion in which board members, the town manager and other participants described the building as structurally unsound, prone to rodent infestation, not ADA compliant and reportedly contaminated with mold. The board—s speaker who closed the swap shop in that structure said she had done so out of concern for public safety and accepted responsibility for that decision.

Board members repeatedly referred to the town—s ownership of the transfer-station parcel and to the town—s insurance coverage. "If something were to happen," a member said during the discussion, "it would be Buckfield—s liability." Several members said the combination of ongoing volunteer shortages and repeated unsuccessful, temporary repairs meant the structure was unlikely to be brought up to safe public-use standards in the near term.

The motion on the floor asked that the board remove the currently empty structure and leave future decisions about a replacement or alternative arrangements to the solid waste committee. One member asked that the board delay the vote until after the solid waste committee meets so committee members could present plans; others said public-works scheduling and the liability exposure made immediate removal appropriate. The board ultimately voted in favor of removal. The motion directs the solid waste committee to identify a path forward and leaves replacement or relocation planning to that committee.

Board members, volunteers and other speakers emphasized that the vote was not intended to permanently end the swap shop program. Several noted the swap shop—s value as a community resource and said the town should pursue a safer, more sustainable home for it, including seeking available solid-waste grants and volunteer support to develop a new facility.

The board also heard that the recently active swap-shop coordinator had regularly communicated progress and ideas to the manager and the board; the manager said she will provide a chronological compilation of those communications at an upcoming meeting to increase transparency.

Next steps recorded in the meeting: the structure removal is to be carried out and the solid waste committee will reconvene to develop recommendations for the swap shop—s future; exact timelines for removal and reuse planning were not specified in the meeting record.