NEW GLOUCESTER – Selectmen faced a busy agenda on Monday, making appointments to committees and establishing new policies and job descriptions.

The Environmental Resource Committee, was established to oversee education, community outreach and regional participation for conservation issues. Abigail Lumsden and James Giffune were appointed to three-year posts and Matt Johnson to a two- year slot.

In other business, selectmen approved allowing a developer to relocate a portion of a snowmobile trail to an adjacent parcel of town-owned land at his expense, pending a letter of request by the Royal River Snowmobile Club. Last week the Planning Board granted developer Richard Reiss a four-lot subdivision between Route 231 and Hatch Road, which includes a section of a snowmobile trail that was a rail line.

Selectmen took action on several recommendations in a report on the New Gloucester Transfer Station. Neal Allen, executive director of Greater Portland Council of Governments, said in a report that safety, efficiency and improved public service is needed at the Bald Hill Road facility.

Currently there is congestion between the station’s off-loading area and the recycling containers. Periodic overnight storage of solid waste on the floor of the transfer station occurs when the compactor has reached capacity and cannot be moved.

Allen suggested adding Friday hours to the current schedule. He recommended shortening hours of operation on each open day. Selectmen will study the issue.

Also, the purchase of a backup container and pad was approved. Selectmen agreed to install a guardrail along the outer edge of the driveway apron that fronts the facility because of a steep, graded banking.

Selectmen will also study improving the station’s signs, to direct people more efficiently.

There is another long-range planning report in the works. New Gloucester has experienced strong residential growth, with population up 23 percent from 1990 to 2000. The town’s population of 4,800 has nearly doubled the amount of solid waste generated since 1991.