Board keeps transfer-station hours unchanged pending budget review and staffing study

The Select Board decided to leave town transfer-station hours as currently scheduled while directing staff and the transfer-station committee to examine staffing hours and budget line items to determine whether expanded weekend hours are feasible without increasing taxes.

At the meeting a presenter summarized an informal survey and said, "these transfer station hours are going to stay as they are" for the time being. Board members then reviewed staffing levels and budgeted hours: Leo, Megan and George’s hours were cited and the board noted the transfer-station personnel have used substantially fewer hours than budgeted so far this fiscal year.

Board members discussed options to add hours on Saturdays and Sundays by reallocating budgeted but unused staff hours, hiring additional attendants to allow rotating days off, and, in the longer term, installing lights to allow weekday evening hours. One select member suggested adding modest weekend hours in summer months and hiring a part-time attendant so permanent staff can take scheduled days off; another urged caution until the transfer-station committee reaches consensus.

Members also asked that outages or equipment failures be posted promptly on the town website and social media so residents are not inconvenienced by unexpected downtime. Remy requested that when a piece of equipment breaks, the town post updates online; the board agreed to involve the town administrator and Megan to handle public notices.

The item will return to the transfer-station committee and the board requested a budget-impact summary for the committee’s March 3 meeting and the capital/operations schedule to support any proposed changes.