Select Board approves CDL training, temporarily closes burn pile, hires compliance work and adopts four-day town-office week

The North Haven Select Board on Dec. 18 took several administrative and operational votes: approving in-house CDL training for chemical transport, temporarily closing the transfer-station burn pile and hiring consultant help, reappointing the town's register of voters, adopting a four-day workweek for the town office, and authorizing limited commuting reimbursements while winter ferry service is constrained.

Chemical transport training and HazMat: Staff reported two town employees (one from water, one from sewer) volunteered to obtain CDLs and HazMat endorsements so the town can legally transport chemicals and reduce contractor costs. Meeting discussion included class logistics and costs: the NTI CDL class was described as $467 per student plus a $60 background check and an optional in-person HazMat endorsement day (about $295); FMCSA online training was noted as an alternative for the HazMat requirement. Rebecca told the board the town could save substantial contractor fees by using trained town employees; one board member said the move could save the town "probably $155,000" compared with outside transport, a rationale the board accepted. The board moved to send one water and one sewer employee to the 40-hour CDL class and voted in favor (motion carried; no dissent recorded).

Transfer station and burn pile: Because of continuing ash and compliance concerns, staff recommended temporarily closing the burn pile and engaging a consultant to assess remediation, permitting and site management. The town attorney advised closure pending consultant review. The board voted to install a cattle gate, temporarily close the burn pile and contact a consultant to plan remediation and control measures.

Department compliance consultant: Staff described a proposed one-year contract with consultant Lynn Martin to audit multiple town departments (town office, fire, transfer station, wastewater, water) and bring manuals/training into compliance with regulatory requirements. The one-year cost discussed was $88,000 to be distributed across affected departmental budgets; the board will consider adding this to next year’s budget process.

Personnel policy — four-day week: After discussing operational implications and public notice, the board voted to change the town office schedule to a four-day (Monday–Thursday) workweek during the winter months and instructed staff to update personnel policy, post public notices, and track any issues.

Transportation stipend for meeting attendance: The board discussed paying for winter-month transport so a minute-taker can attend important in-person meetings while ferry service is limited. The board approved reimbursement of up to $25 per one-way trip to cover winter transport until regular ferry service resumes; staff will review budget impacts and present updates to the budget committee where appropriate.

Administrative items: The board reappointed the current register of voters by motion and unanimous voice vote. The board also set meeting calendars — next regular meeting Jan. 8 (4:00 p.m. Jan–Mar) — and scheduled a joint select-board/budget-committee meeting Jan. 15 and a public hearing on warrant/budget items March 5.

Votes at a glance: CDL training (send 2 staff to class) — approved; Burn pile closure & consultant engagement — approved; Reappointment of register of voters — approved; Four-day town-office week policy — approved; Transportation reimbursements up to $25/trip — approved.

Sources and provenance: the article draws on meeting discussion and roll-call/motion language (action discussion and votes appear from SEG 1331 through SEG 2311).