OXFORD — Transfer Station Manager Ed Knightly was authorized by selectmen Thursday to start tracking larger items to determine where they are coming from.
He said recycling increased to 67% in 2021, but he cautioned that disposal of household items like furniture and mattresses has increased significantly since the fees were repealed.
“Two years ago we repealed the fees on most items, but we’re getting overburdened on certain items,” he said. “I don’t think it’s all from Oxford but we can’t control it because it’s an Oxford resident bringing it in. We see a lot of mattresses and couches. When you see six mattresses all at once, there’s something funny going on.”
Knightly suggested selectmen revisit the no-fee policy or the coupon system of years past when residents were limited on the number of items left at no charge. He suggested selectmen consider a slight fee for anyone bringing in more than two mattresses in one day. He said they have been receiving 50 to 60 mattresses a month.
Selectmen signaled that the town is not ready to make any fee adjustments with revenues up and operating expenses coming under budget in 2021.
Selectman Dana Dillingham wanted to know if the Highway Department has had to spend time cleaning up roadside trash.
Town Manager Adam Garland and Knightly confirmed there has not been a great need for it.
“That was one of the reasons that we (dropped the fees),” Dillingham said. “We don’t want to revert back to that.”
Board Vice Chairwoman Sharon Jackson asked Knightly to start tracking the larger items brought in and report to the board in July.
With the transfer station running smoothly and private property and roadsides being clear of household debris, she said reverting back to a fee schedule when inflation is affecting people is not yet warranted.
Knightly said he would do that, telling the board that tipping fees for tires and waste are increasing for the town already.
He advised that someone broke into the transfer station Feb. 6, rifled through desks and stole a pair of gloves and an employee timecard. The person was seen on security cameras but has not been identified.
He also told selectmen that Almighty Waste damaged the ejector trailer but repaired it at no charge.
Also at the meeting, some businesses had their licenses renewed, including liquor licenses for Daddy O’s and Pizza Hut. Mass gathering applications for Oxford Speedway’s weekly racing and for the Oxford Plains 250 were approved, as was the business license for Pa’s Tradin’ Co.
In other business selectmen agreed that owners of foreclosed properties will be granted 90 days to pay back taxes and reclaim their property.
They also authorized Garland to execute quitclaim deeds once owners have paid the entire bill.
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