Woodstock eyes trash cost formula

Greenwood is apparently bringing more trash than in the past to the Greenwood-Woodstock Transfer Station, Woodstock Selectman Rick Young said at a selectboard meeting last week.
    The towns have shared the transfer station, located in Greenwood, since 1986. Woodstock has paid 60 percent of the annual bill and Greenwood 40 percent, according to Town Manager Vern Maxfield, because Woodstock had more people.
    But recently, said Young, the trash generated by Greenwood appears to have caught up. “I think we’re about 50/50,” he said.
    He said an increase could possibly have resulted from more development in recent years in that town.
    Maxfield said the G&W board, which oversees the station and is comprised of selectmen from both towns, will likely discuss the possibility of adjusting the cost-sharing formula.
    While Greenwood may have had more development over recent years, that does not mean all was quiet this past year on the building front in Woodstock, according to Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey-Whitman. She told selectmen the Planning Board had issued about 50 building permits in 2012, netting the town about $3,000 in fees. Although there were only a couple of new homes, “there’s plenty of activity, keeping local contractors busy,” she said.
    A business building permit has also been issued for the Crazy Sisters Redemption center, to be located next to the Post Office in a building that had previously served the same purpose. It is expected to open in March.
    Corey-Whitman also updated the board on her efforts regarding several properties that have been out of compliance with the town’s property maintenance ordinance. In addition, she reported that North Pond property owner Ken Roberts had paid a $1,875 fine for illegally cutting trees too close to the pond. He has also been directed to plant new trees.
    In other business, Town Manager Vern Maxfield said the town attorney has reviewed a proposed wind ordinance crafted by a special town committee, and the committee is now updating it based on his recommendations. A final version is expected for early February, and a public hearing will likely take place later in the month. The ordinance will be voted upon at the annual town meeting in March.
    Selectmen also voted to pay time-and-a-half to firefighters who man the stations on holidays. They are generally on call for those days. But, said Young, “My feeling is that if the fire department is manning on a holiday, they should be paid time and a half. We’re only looking at five or six holidays out of the year. We do appreciate the work they do and what they’re bringing to the community.”
    The board also approved interfaith minister Sarah Shepley of South Paris to deliver a prayer at the annual town meeting. The board decided last year to use different clergy each year, after receiving complaints that Christian prayers delivered in past years may have made people of different religious beliefs feel uncomfortable.
    Young reported that the transfer station has received delivery of a used bucketloader purchased from Cumberland for $29,500.