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Georgetown committee schedules Oct. 23 meeting after transfer station compactor failure
Summary
The Solid Waste Management Committee set a special meeting for Oct. 23 after a transfer-station compactor malfunctioned; a technician’s service call cost $431.61 and full repair estimates are pending. The committee noted Select Board approval is required for equipment reserve withdrawals above $5,000.
The Georgetown Solid Waste Management Committee scheduled a special meeting for Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. to review repair estimates and decide whether to repair or replace the transfer-station compactor.
Jim Coombs, transfer station manager, reported that a red warning light began disabling compaction about three weeks earlier. A technician performed an emergency service call and performed a temporary repair; the invoice for that call from Atlantic Recycling was $431.61, and a complete repair estimate had not yet been received. Coombs said the hydraulic pump, mechanical structure and ram are original to the unit and are the most likely components to be failing, and that the hydraulic mechanism can be rebuilt or the unit replaced with a rebuilt compactor.
David Polito, committee member, moved to schedule the Oct. 23 meeting; Sharon Trabona seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Committee members noted the budgetary process: if the repair or replacement requires more than $5,000 from the equipment reserve, Select Board approval is required; amounts under $5,000 could come from the maintenance and repair line item.
The committee also discussed interim operations: when the compactor could not be overridden last week, staff used a backup container for trash. Committee members asked Coombs to expedite estimates and indicated they could hold an emergency meeting if estimates arrive sooner. The special meeting will decide whether to authorize a rebuild, purchase a rebuilt unit, or seek Select Board approval for a larger outlay.
The committee’s next regularly scheduled meeting is Nov. 13, 2025; the Oct. 23 special meeting will focus on the compactor decision.
