The new committee will review options and is to report to selectmen by July 15.
By Connie Footman
Special to the Sun Journal

LISBON – Selectmen on Tuesday established a nine-member committee to review options to offset costs for solid waste disposal.

A proposal by Solid Waste Director Wayne Ricker to set new fees to dispose of numerous items met with stiff opposition at a public hearing on April 22, prompting selectmen to table the issue and appoint a committee to study the proposal. Ricker explained he was looking at fees because his budget was nearing the half-million dolllar mark and that he thought it would be fairer to shift some of the costs to those who use it rather than taxation.

The new committee will review options and is to report to selectmen by July 15.

Named to the panel were former Selectman Trudy Duval, local contractor Ken Goodwin, Blaine Davis, John Ziemm, Richard Main, Gilbert Veilleux, former Selectman Ed Wall; L.Scott D’Amboise, representing the Board of Selectmen, and Ricker.

Selectmen approved an agreement with the Maine Department of Transportation for a $700,000 reconstruction project for a three-quarter mile portion of Main Street beginning near Potter Brook and ending before Bowdoinham Road. The local share will be $10,000, which has already been appropriated, Town Manager Curtis Lunt said.

Selectmen approved the contract with the stipulation that a traffic control plan and landscaping are in place.

An earlier agreement with MDOT calls for reconstruction of another portion of Main Street from the urban compact line in a northerly direction for a distance of just under one-half mile. The combined cost of the reconstruction is $1.2 million, Lunt said, and both sections are to be completed this year.

A Massachusetts firm, Markers Inc. was awarded the contract for striping 25 miles of center lines and 10 to 12 miles of white sidelines on its low bid of $11,500.

Selectmen were told a waste water treatment plant feasibility study indicates needed improvements will cost an estimated $250,000 but made no deccision on how to proceed.

Forty incandescent light bulbs in four traffic lights and one flashing light are set to be replaced with LED bulbs in the next few weeks. Two-thirds of the replacement cost will be borne by the state, with the town’s share pegged at $946, Lunt said. Replacing the bulbs with the more energy-effecient LED bulbs will result in a CO 2 reduction and payback in one to three years, according to Lunt. The lights at Capital Avenue and Canal Street are not included as they already have the newer bulbs.

In other action, victualer’s licenses were granted to Coombs Mountfort American Legion, Dairy Maid, Mike’s Pub, New England Vending and the Getty Station. Licenses for another nine businesses were extended when it was discovered the required inspections had not been done.

Richard Nadeau was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Trail Commission.

Executive sessions to discuss the Police Sergeants Teamsters contract, Earth Tech Water Treatment Plant contract and real estate were held after open session, but no votes were taken.