Transfer Station Manager Defends Operation Setup

In an emotional debate on Monday night regarding the recently changed Transfer Station hours, Station Manager Dave Poulson defended the current operation setup and voiced his disagreement with a car counter at his facility.

Poulson spoke on Monday following a petition that came before the Board of Selectmen in late July to change the current station setup of Wednesday through Saturday, 10 hours per day.

At that time, the board suggested using a car counter to determine when traffic was lowest and when it was highest at the station.

"I see no scientific value of using a car counter to meet the petitioner's goals," Poulson argued.

He said that at the end of the day, the town should be talking about the "merit of the petition," adding that it morphed from an issue of station backup following holidays to a problem with three straight days off.

He asked the board to consider coming to the station and reviewing surveilance video, but several board members were steadfast with the request for a car counter.

The counter was implemented following the board's request, according to Town Administrator Dave Sullivan. It malfunctioned after two days, and may take weeks to repair.

Poulson also said that he did not want to get into debating other arguments that the petitioners presented in July, including odors emitted from trash sitting for three days.

He also argued that a typical Wednesday sees no lines out to Route 111, and that the station is closed for far less holidays than the town.

Poulson also said that no petitioners came to him directly about their concerns.

"It makes me feel bad because I never had a chance; nobody came to me during this whole situation," Poulson said. "Not one petitioner came aside and said 'Dave, can we talk?'"

The board will look again at the petioned concerns during an upcoming workshop Transfer Station workshop.