NORWAY – Archie McCaughin told selectmen Thursday he had a plan that would save Norway and Paris some money in recycling.

He just needed their approval.

The board voted unanimously to support McCaughin, Norway’s representative on the Oxford County Regional Solid Waste Corp., in his attempt to lower the fees the two towns pay as members of the corporation.

Under the proposed plan, Norway and Paris would pay less because there is no trucking involved to get their recyclables to the Norway collection station. The membership fee is based on each town’s population, McCaughin said, and therefore Norway and Paris pay the most.

Smaller towns farther away from the recycling center, such as Bethel, Andover and Livermore Falls, require trucking to get their recyclables to Norway.

“The cost saving will probably come from a very small percentage (fee increase) from the other towns,” McCaughin said. “Theirs will increase very slightly. Norway and Paris will decrease.”

Norway pays from $16,000 to $17,000 for recycling. McCaughin’s plan would cut that by nearly $2,000 by 2004.

Selectman Robert Walker said Norway and Paris have borne most of the expense of leasing the trucks to haul recyclables and get the least service from them.

“This is something we should have done before, and we’re just getting around to it now,” McCaughin said.

McCaughin will take the proposal to the solid waste board Wednesday for approval.

Town Manager David Holt told selectmen that an unforeseen expense will probably drive the cost of the work on Main Street up $60,000.

He said the Department of Transportation is replacing the Pike’s Hill Bridge and water and sewer pipes must be replaced there.

The town is paying for the project from a grant and loan from the Rural Development Agency.

Holt said the agency said the town cannot use its money to pay for that particular project, which was not included in the original request.

“I’m disappointed in the way that is heading,” Holt said.

Selectmen decided to study the feasibility of having a roadside trash pickup system.

Walker said he was approached by several residents who wondered about beginning such a service.

“We spend a quarter of a million (dollars) for the transfer station,” Walker said. “This would eliminate the transfer station, but we would probably keep Frost Hill.

“I’m not lobbying one way or the other,” he said.

Selectmen decided to gather the costs and study the proposal.

They reaffirmed that a public hearing would be held Sept. 18 to amend the parking ordinances on Main Street. Merchants requested increasing the two-hour parking limit to four hours.

Also that day a special town meeting will be held to amend the building code and approve setting up a $15,000 account to take care of wells contaminated by salt.

Selectmen have already told Linton Thompson of 173 Greenwood Road that they would pay all or most of his cost to drill a well. His current well was contaminated by road salt residue.

jsmedley@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link