Working group seeks clearer job descriptions, flexible contingency and staffing support for transfer station

At the March 20 meeting members of the Transfer Station Working Group agreed updated job descriptions are needed to capture expanded responsibilities and to support hiring and compensation decisions.

Gardiner Morse was assigned to prepare revised attendant job descriptions that reflect broader technical, operational and customer-service expectations. Members said future roles may include shared responsibilities across a small team and that a mix of experienced staff and younger workers, used by neighboring towns, could help manage more physically demanding tasks.

The group discussed operational capacity pressures as the transfer station handles increasing volumes and more complex material streams. Members described informal handling of tasks such as snow clearing, moving heavy items and minor repairs—work often done without compensation—and said the town would benefit from a better-funded, more structured approach, including short-duration ad hoc labor when needed.

As a result of FY26 contingency spending patterns the working group agreed to propose a FY27 contingency of $2,500 and to use those funds more flexibly to address operational gaps while clarifying the distinction between maintenance and labor categories in the budget.

Action items recorded at the meeting included: Gardiner Morse drafting updated job descriptions; Marc Trachtenberg continuing implementation of a shared digital document system; and the group finalizing budget inputs and contingency tracking for submission to the Select Board and Finance Committee.