Council hears DPW design updates as action committee seeks direction on transfer station and curbside options

The Department of Public Works Action Committee told the Hebrin Town Council on March 3 that its design development phase is nearly complete and that third‑party cost estimates will be reconciled before a public presentation in mid‑March. "The design development piece of the project is almost complete," said Richard Steiner, the committee chairman. The committee said design documents have been sent to a third‑party estimator and a formal package will be posted online when the estimate is finalized.

The committee outlined multiple site adjustments intended to reduce environmental risk and operational hazards, including overhead canopies over bulky‑waste containers to limit runoff; relocating antifreeze and waste‑oil collection away from stormwater flow; stacking spare containers adjacent to active units; extended concrete pads for mattress recycling containers; and designated snow storage that routes meltwater into oil/water separators. Steiner also described alternates under consideration — resinous floor coatings, radiant floor heat in mechanic bays, and photovoltaic systems — but emphasized the need for rigorous cost analysis before adding options.

Those design choices follow recommendations from a Feb. 12 wetlands review that deemed the proposed activity "significant" and recommended a public hearing. The committee has scheduled that hearing for March 12 at 7:30 p.m. to allow conservation authorities and the public to review jurisdictional concerns.

The action committee also reported procurement challenges. A January request for proposals for curbside municipal solid‑waste pickup (bids due Feb. 6) produced no offers. Committee members said vendors cited short contract terms and the high capital cost of containers and vehicles as reasons not to bid. "The contract period was too short...Capital investment of those types of things was way too high," the committee reported.

That lack of bids prompted DPWAC to pursue three alternative options (not yet finalized) including discussions with neighboring Colchester about shared services and consideration of phasing the project to exclude the transfer station. "We are pursuing Colchester," Steiner said; representatives said Colchester asked for a clear proposal after their own budget process. Several council members and committee participants warned that retaining the transfer station in place during construction would add phasing complexity, expose workers and residents to safety risks, and likely raise overall costs. Contractors who visited the site told the committee they would be reluctant to bid on a heavily phased project with many unknowns.

Public commenters, including resident Rob Madre, urged the council to provide a transparent, public vetting of alternatives before committing to a permanent closure or relocation of the town dump and transfer functions. "The town deserves a full transparent vetting of the proposal to permanently close the dump before deciding where to site the facility," Madre said.

The action committee asked the council for formal direction on its charge and on which options to pursue; councilors and committee chairs agreed to continue public outreach and post documents and Q&A online. DPWAC said it will add a regular correspondence section to its agendas, respond to questions publicly within its timeline, and host an information booth at Maplefest to share design graphics and timelines.

Next steps: DPWAC will reconcile its third‑party estimate with the architect, publish the package in mid‑March, and the wetlands public hearing on March 12 will consider regulatory jurisdiction and public comments. The council did not take a formal vote on site selection or operational closures at the March 3 meeting.