Town officials are contemplating ways to pay for a site plan to examine more efficient ways to configure the transfer station.
Recycling Committee member Tom Rothermel met with the board Monday for an update about potential changes to the transfer station. The first step, according to Rothermel is finding a way to pay for a $2,500 site plan, which will help the committee determine where things could be moved to.
“[DPW Manager Randy Heglin] is looking into grants and other options,” said Rothermel. “Beyond the site plan, we could be looking at purchasing another baler and a floor scale.”
The town’s transfer station is behind neighboring towns’ stations, according to Rothermel. Visiting Peterborough and Swanzey recently, Rothermel said he was impressed by how streamlined, beautiful, and clean their transfer stations were.
Rothermel said the biggest needs, according to Jaffrey transfer station employees, are improving parking and traffic flow, and adding another baler.
One idea floated by Rothermel to create more space was to move the swap shop off site. There was no decision made at the meeting, as the recycling committee is still looking at various options, including renovating so that residents would throw trash bags through windows into the collection area, rather than going inside the building.
Board chair Don MacIsaac said he wants the committee to come up with a business plan to address all issues at the transfer station, including the wants and needs of the committee, and how those items will be accomplished.
MacIsaac also said he was disappointed in the Town Meeting decision to not approve a warrant article to institute fees for bulky and construction waste.
“This should have been a no-brainer for the town,” said MacIsaac. “This project is going to have to overcome the inertia of the people. We are going to have to do a good job selling this to the voters.”
The board also approved a resolution that would make the process of requesting a building permit on a private or class VI road simpler.
The new process has an applicant approach the Planning Board, then receive approval from the Select Board. Previously, applicants would have to meet with the Select Board, then the Planning Board, then the Select Board again for final approval.