Residents and selectmen press for action as Hartland landfill odors persist

The Board of Selectmen heard renewed complaints about lingering odors from the Hartland municipal landfill at its Jan. 2 meeting, and town staff outlined recent mitigation work and remaining uncertainties.

Town Manager Christopher Littlefield told the board a recent survey showed the landfill’s compaction rate at 57% and that the town has been battling odors for several weeks. Littlefield said the town has spent about $17,990 to date on mitigation measures and estimated it would take at least $3,000 to $6,000 more to continue efforts; he said the cost of adding flares was not yet known.

The matter drew direct public comment. Resident Tim Kuespert said the "landfill smell [is] getting worse" and urged the selectmen not to tolerate the problem. Tom Kuespert asked why lime had not been used as a mitigation method. George Greenwood recommended installing flares and provided a contact name, Tim Sans.

Selectman Mark Brooks asked whether the town had followed all recommendations from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the town’s consultant; Littlefield responded that the town had complied with those recommendations. When asked by Josh Holmbom whether heavy rain last fall had worsened the problem, Littlefield answered, "yes."

The board did not vote on a specific new mitigation measure during the meeting; Littlefield instructed staff to continue following DEP and consultant guidance and to report back. Residents at the public forum pressed for more immediate action and for clearer cost estimates on proposed fixes.

What’s next: the selectmen added continued landfill mitigation discussion to future agendas and acknowledged additional expenditures will be necessary; no formal contract awards or purchases were approved at the Jan. 2 session.