Bethel, Hanover, Newry voters get ultimate say on $165,880 project.
By Terry Karkos
Staff Writer

BETHEL – By a 5-0 vote Thursday, representatives from three towns approved a $165,880 upgrade of the solid waste transfer station.

Now the onus is on Bethel, Hanover and Newry voters to approve the Tri-Town Solid Waste Committee’s project before work can begin.

The project is designed to give residents of the three towns a cleaner, safer, more convenient way to dispose of household trash and construction debris.

It also allows the existing site to be used to meet current demands plus 30 percent. Major subdivision developments either under way or quickly coming in Newry and Bethel are driving concerns about expected waste increases.

The upgrade consists of replacing 12 rusted-out flip-top Dumpsters at the transfer station with two stationary hoppers for $9,000.

The hoppers are to be connected to roll-off containers that cost $13,400 and two stationary compacting units that cost $38,000.

Instead of having people throw construction debris into a bucket loader, a throw-down system is to be used for the debris, shingles and metals.

“The idea of putting trash into a bucket loader is very Third World,” said Town Manager Scott Cole.

A roof would be erected over the throw-down system to eliminate precipitation and block wind blow.

Total expenditures are $150,800 with a 10 percent contingency – $15,080 – built in for a total cost of $165.880.

The proportionate cost-share breakdown has Bethel at 54.51 percent, paying $90,421; Newry at 39.82 percent, paying $66,053; and Hanover at 5.67 percent, paying $9,405.

Committee members agreed that Bethel should finance the project with a five-year bank note, then Newry and Hanover would reimburse Bethel annually.

Hanover Selectman Bruce Powell pushed for a five-year note.

“That $9,405 doesn’t seem a lot compared to the other town numbers until you look at our budget,” he said.

Hanover, which has a $300,000 annual budget, is currently raising $32,000 for its share of solid waste. Tacking on $9,405 more would equal 3 percent of their budget, he added.

But even though the committee approved the project, voters and Bethel’s Budget Committee have final say.

Following public hearings on the project in each town, Newry voters tackle it at their March 1 town meeting.

If Newry OKs the project, it goes before Bethel’s Budget Committee, then town voters at their June 9 town meeting.

Hanover officials, who typically have their town meeting in November, would conduct a special town meeting in June to speed the process along.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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