MECHANIC FALLS – Stricter enforcement of rules for use of the town’s transfer station and landfill is beginning to pay off, Town Manager John Hawley told the council this week.

“Bob Abbott of the transfer station says a number of hauls is down to one haul of trash a week,” Hawley said. “We were averaging one and a half times per week.”

Hawley noted that the Jan. 1 strict implementation of the town’s ordinance on trash disposal, which required residents to obtain a sticker to use the transfer station and required them to separate recyclables, met with some initial resistance.

“We’ve seen several upset citizens who believed they shouldn’t be required to sort their trash. Some state they believed they paid enough in taxes that they shouldn’t have to,” Hawley said.

The object of strict enforcement of dumping rules is to save taxpayers money. Taxpayers pay by the pound for trash hauled to Mid-Maine Waste Action Corp. for burning and, Councilor Bill Diehl noted, the life span of the town’s landfill is shortened with each deposit of materials that is not recycled or found not suitable for disposal at MMWAC.

“If we can’t stop (premature filling of the landfill), we will be paying royally,” Diehl said.

Diehl also asked that transfer station staff continue efforts to dismantle furniture and mattresses even though it is time consuming.

Councilor Richard Wing suggested that people buying new furniture and appliances be aware of, and take advantage of, dealers’ offers to take away the old when delivering the new.

Hawley also reported that $3,800 has been raised so far in response to recent vandalism at the Mechanic Falls library. Bids are being sought for alarm and video camera systems, and Hawley said the library is expected to be open in the next couple of weeks.

The town is in the final stage of having security cameras installed throughout the municipal building in response to recent damage in the gym and minor vandalism throughout the building, he added.

Town Clerk Shirley Marquis announced that she registered a record-breaking 38 dogs in one hour during the annual rabies clinic, held Saturday, Jan. 27. Local veterinarian Warren Frechette, she said, was straight out inoculating both cats and dogs in numbers greater than what he had seen during past three-hour clinics.