JAY – Selectmen voted unanimously Monday to hire a temporary-to-permanent worker for the transfer station with the stipulation that the job may become full time or may be eliminated, depending on results of an evaluation of services.

A motion by Selectman Steve McCourt to hold off on the hiring until the evaluation was reviewed for potential savings failed by a 3-1 vote.

Selectmen did ask transfer station and recycling coordinator Bob Sanders to look into subcontracting services, though Sanders pointed out that the union contract prohibits subcontracting work out if an employee would be laid off.

To be at full staff the transfer station, which includes recycling goods and handling solid waste for Jay and seven other towns depending on contracted services, would have eight employees, including Sanders.

Seven people currently staff the station.

Selectmen previously had asked Sanders previously to put off hiring someone full time until an evaluation was done on staffing needs. He was allowed to hire a temporary person, but that person has left the department.

Selectmen have the results of the first part of a two-part evaluation by Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments that indicated staffing at the station is best at full complement. Some factors not considered in the study were contracting out for facility operation and/or curbside collection, accepting materials from other communities, changes in collection routes, and services to businesses such as collecting from Dumpsters and longer operating hours.

A poll on curbside pickup last year showed Jay residents by an overwhelming 201-to-47 margin wanted trash and recyclables collection maintained.

The town also has 41 Dumpsters that it handles for town businesses and schools.

Businesses lease the Dumpsters for an average of $144 a month, depending on size.

The overall budget for the transfer, solid waste operation this year is nearly $950,000, which is expected to be partly offset by about $465,000 in anticipated revenues.

There are five routes for pickups, with approximately 375 stops per route.

From AVCOG representatives’ observations, the facility appears to be well-run and reasonably clean.

Savings may be possible by cutting service, such as closing one or two days per week, the report stated.

“We believe that the curbside collection could be slightly more efficient, and possibly the routes should be further evaluated. A few other changes may also be possible in order to reduce costs if the town wanted to pursue them,” Ferg Lea, AVCOG planning director, wrote.

The agency is also working on calculating the cost/benefit of handling waste from other towns as the second part of the study.

The board is trying to balance effectiveness and efficiency for the benefit of the townspeople.

The town receives tipping fees plus $20 a ton for handling solid waste for other towns and $30 a ton for recyclables, with the town able to sell the recyclables and keep the profit, Sanders said.