NEWRY – Administrative Assistant Sylvia Gray told selectmen Monday that there may not be enough money available to cover the costs of sanitary waste disposal for October and November.

Gray said $115,000 was raised at town meeting in March for the calendar year 2003 to pay for waste disposal, but only $9,651 remains to cover the payments for this month and last.

“I don’t think the $9,651 we have left in the sanitation account is going to cover the months of October and November,” she said, “and if it goes over that we may have to have a special town meeting.”

That would be needed to augment a small cushion of cash on hand, she said. “We do have $2,000 to play with if we do go over, but that still might not do it,” she said.

Gray said Bethel, which Newry partners with for waste disposal, has made some upgrades to the transfer station, such as paving the entrance road, and the extra work cost more than Newry had estimated.

Selectmen took the matter under advisement. They’ll address it again after October and November costs are clear and they can determine if more money is needed.

Selectmen also expressed concern about having private fire ponds deeded to the town, which would make the town responsible for maintenance of the ponds and dry hydrants.

Selectman James Largess said, “I am really concerned about fire ponds being deeded over to the town. I have no problem with us plowing dry hydrants, which are near town roads, but I have a problem with them being deeded to the town. Fire ponds are needed when a development is not near water, but if the town owns them the town has to maintain them. If one goes dry it will be up to us to fill it, and we’ll have to maintain the hydrant as well as plow it. And I don’t think we need that.”

The issue was eventually tabled.

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