Fayette selectmen are expected to vote Monday on the terms of an agreement to bring the town into full partnership with the Readfield-Wayne Transfer Station. Approval of the document, which has undergone a number of drafts, will send it first to a public hearing at the end of February and then to voters at a special town meeting April 3.

Fayette selectmen will conduct a final review of the three-year transfer station partnership agreement at their regular meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Fayette Central School. In the event of a cancellation because of bad weather, Town Manager Mark Robinson said, the agenda item would move to the Feb. 27 selectmen’s meeting.

The town has been a customer of the Readfield-Wayne Transfer Station since July 1, 2016, paying about $40,000 in disposal and access fees to the Readfield/Wayne station. Fayette previously paid the town of Jay $39,000 in annual tipping and disposal fees, but then Jay announced it was closing its transfer station to outsiders.

Fayette resident contract to have their trash picked up by one of three private haulers — Archie’s, of Mexico; J & A Disposal, of Jay; and Fran Trask, of Manchester — for $25 per month. Partnership would allow Fayette residents to continue with that or to take their trash to the transfer station themselves, if they choose to do so.

Robinson previously said the Fayette board would like to have Fayette residents’ approval for the agreement sooner than Town Meeting in June to give the other communities advance notice when they prepare their budgets.

Robinson said so far the use of the Readfield-Wayne Transfer Station as a customer has worked out well, from his perspective.

Eric Dyer, who manages the transfer station as part of his role as Readfield town manager, said Friday the multi-year agreement would allow the three towns, rather than two, to share the cost of operating the facility.

“It will lower costs and bring more stability to the system, which is important,” Dyer said, adding that he looks forward to a multi-year agreement. “Long-term, everybody should save money.”

Initially, however, it means Fayette will pay more than it had when it used the Jay transfer station.

However, Robinson said there are benefits for residents that would accompany joining the Readfield-Wayne Transfer Station.

“You get the ability to go there when they’re open, just like any resident of Readfield or Wayne, and you can take care of disposal on your own,” he said.

He estimated that on average, Fayette households pay around $300 per year for someone to pick up their trash and recyclables.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams

 

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