Town over budget on winter roads; salt supply low
NEWFANE — NEWFANE-The town is over budget on sand and salt for road maintenance, and salt is now in short supply. That's the word from Road Foreman and Selectboard Chair Todd Lawley, speaking at the Feb. 6 board meeting.
He added that the roads may reflect that scarcity until the town can get hold of more salt.
“It's been a long winter so far, but they tell me spring's coming,” Lawley said.
That said, resident Pat Weisbrich, of the planning commission, said she wanted to publicly commend Lawley for prompt action on a complaint of a sinkhole on the side of Dover Road. She said the day after she reported it to him it was marked so that drivers wouldn't hit it.
Arch Bridge design in works
NEWFANE-On Feb. 6, Road Foreman and Selectboard Chair Todd Lawley told the Selectboard that the state has begun design work on Arch Bridge.
Agency of Transportation engineer Chris Williams has confirmed the progress. The update drew pleased remarks from the room.
Lawley said a public hearing would be scheduled to seek input on the bridge design.
Transfer station idea tabled
NEWFANE- Also Feb. 6, Johanna Gardner, Bob Spencer, and Lou Bruso from the Windham Solid Waste District apprised Selectboard members of progress toward a proposed recyclables transfer station on the Route 30 corridor, possibly in Townshend.
“The haulers said we don't need it. Things could change. We'd want to make sure there was some financial upside to the town, but it's on hold right now,” said Spencer.
He also reminded the board that Act 148, which takes effect July 1, 2015, will institute mandatory curbside recycling, which he said “places the onus on the hauling industry,” and that the district has not decided whether it will maintain its recycling boxes here.
“In Newfane you don't have municipal curbside trash collection, like they do in Westminster, Brattleboro, and Vernon; you don't have a transfer station like they do in Wilmington and Jamaica: so basically your trash is handled by private haulers. The law will make it mandatory that they offer collection at the curb July 1, 2015.”
Spencer said the district would consult with the towns beforehand were the containers to be removed.
Meanwhile, the district handles 200 tons of recyclables a year from Newfane, Spencer said, adding, “That's very good. You have avid recyclers here.”
He said at the prevailing disposal rate of approximately $100 per ton for paper, cardboard, and similar commodities, residents who pay for collection collectively saved more than $20,000 last year.