Bartlett–Jackson committee orders railings, approves large rate hikes for construction debris

The Bartlett–Jackson transfer station committee voted July 2 to install code‑compliant railings at the joint transfer station and to sharply raise fees for construction debris, the committee said.

Selectman Gene Chandler moved to have railings installed at the Bartlett–Jackson Transfer Station; the motion passed on a unanimous roll‑call vote. BJTS Manager Bob Blake was asked to solicit quotes for the work. Ross Baker, a transfer station attendant, told the board he had recently attended a safety course and called missing railings “a safety hazard not already having the railings in place.” Blake said the station had been found non‑compliant in a prior inspection because of the lack of railings.

The board discussed how railing installation and stricter size limits could reduce commercial dumping. Blake proposed a 12‑foot maximum trailer size with sides at least 3 feet high and said that while contractors would no longer be allowed to dump trailers, they could still unload by hand — a practice that causes dumpsters to reach weight limits more quickly. Blake also told members that Jackson dumpsters fill in about two weeks while Bartlett fills roughly three per week.

Members debated how much to raise fees to cover hauling costs. Blake said his proposed schedule would represent about a 70% increase to sustain hauling fees for roughly five years. Selectman Bob Thompson urged a quadrupling of current rates, while Selectman Ron Munro recommended a doubling and urged separate structures for contractors and homeowners. After discussion the committee adopted a plan to double current pickup truck load fees across the board and to triple fees for any trailer loads. The board set the new rates to take effect Aug. 1 and agreed to provide roughly one month’s notice; Chandler said he would draft the public notice.

The action combines a formal safety remedy and a revenue change the board said is intended to offset higher hauling costs and discourage commercial use of a municipally intended facility. Manager Blake will return with contractor quotes for the railings and with details for implementing the new rate schedule.