At a public hearing May 19, Alna residents expressed a desire to continue to use the Wiscasset Transfer Station for the town’s waste disposal needs. The discussion was in keeping with a newly adopted Alna Public Funds Administration Policy, which requires any expenditure over $3000 to be put through a formal bidding process. The policy has been the subject of both ridicule and praise from residents who are still negotiating the finer implications of the policy’s adoption.
“This personal war has turned into a real bag of trash,” said Alna resident and RSU 12 school board member Ralph Hilton at the meeting. “This policy was developed because people have a personal vendetta against one of our citizens.”
The citizen in question, Road Commissioner Michael Trask, has been the subject of scrutiny from residents and former selectman Tom Smith who said publicly that conflict of interest issues surrounded the awarding of roadwork projects to Trask. At the urging of the town residents, the Board of Selectmen enacted a policy that requires projects over $3000 to be put out to bid to thwart conflict of issue concerns and potential corruption.
Selectman Jonathan Villeneuve said the trash hearing was designed to gather feedback on the issue. According to documents prepared by Villeneuve, the town is spending $67,000 a year at the Wiscasset Transfer Station or roughly $94 a resident. By comparison, the documents show the Nobleboro-Jefferson Transfer Station to cost between $43-$48,00 yearly or $61-$68 a resident. In addition to Nobleboro, Villeneuve provided data on curbside pickup similar to a system used in Woolwich.
“I’d like to thank Jon for an excellent job, this is valuable information,” said resident Billie Willard, former chairman of the select board.
Beth Whitney, who ran against Villeneuve in the April election, said he “put his money where his mouth was” and thanked him for the effort.
Current board Chairman David Abbott, who said he was not in favor of putting the trash issue out to bid, asked the residents in attendance to vote, by show of hands, who would like to stay with the current arrangement with Wiscasset. After all but one of the roughly 30 or so attendees voted in favor, Alna Asst. Fire Chief Roger Whitney said, “case closed.”
“Thank you for your time and information,” said Hilton. “Make a motion to adjourn.”
Villeneuve said Hilton was free to go if he so desired but wanted to hear specific reasons why the residents wanted to maintain the status quo. Among concerns voiced by residents were cost of gas, inflexible hours from the Nobleboro station, rank smelling garbage that would have to wait for a once weekly pickup, and the lack of large item pickup options-defined as couches, tires, and other such detritus.
Based on feedback from residents at the hearing, the board agreed to suspend the policy and the town will continue, for the time being, to maintain its contract with the Wiscasset Transfer Station.
