JAY – A crowd of residents that overflowed out of Spruce Mountain Middle School lined up to cast their vote at Tuesday night’s special town meeting concerning the question of appropriating $120,000 to reinstate curbside pickup. The larger than expected crowd delayed the beginning of the meeting by half an hour, with more than 250 people packing into the gymnasium.
The issue of whether or not to offer curbside pickup has been an on-going debate, after the annual town meeting brought a $146,550 reduction to the transfer station budget. That reduction consisted primarily of the $120,000 payment to Archie’s Inc. for curbside pickup, effectively ending the practice in Jay as of July 1.
Following the town’s decision, residents gathered signatures on a petition to reestablish the service which was presented to the Board of Selectpersons.
Despite the lengthy delay, residents quickly and decisively brought the discussion to an end, moving to begin the voting process. The article passed with 159 voting in favor and 117 voting against.
On Tuesday, Aug. 15, the Board of Selectpersons will convene to set the tax commitment. Preliminary estimates provided by Verso regarding the Androscoggin Mill point to a likely increase: the mill’s approximate value is expected to reduce by roughly $66.5 million as compared to last year. Early calculations indicate that a mil rate of 22.70 would be necessary to meet the town’s revenue needs, given the reduction in valuation at the mill. That would represent an increase over last year’s 21.10 rate.
That figure does not include the potential $120,000 curbside appropriation. That would raise the projected mil rate from 22.70 to 22.90, per the calculations by town officials.
The day after that, Aug. 16, the Solid Waste Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the town office. The committee consists of Selectpersons Judy Diaz and Tim DeMillo; residents Tom Goding, Delance White, Mike Fournier, Susanne Czarnecki, Alfred Dufour III, Marilyn Morse, Greg Given, Richard Harvell and Lillian Wright, with Highway Department Director John Johnson and Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere also assisting.
Perhaps it is time for a pay per bag if one has it picked up at their location as lots of towns do. While trash could still be picked up, it wouldn’t be free.
As if our taxes are not high enough to reinstate curbside is ridiculous! To bad this many people would not show up at all town meetings. I for one will continue using the guy I hired for pick up my trash at least he does not throw my trash cans all over the lawn and picks up stuff that animals get in to. It’s high time we start making more cuts in the town office. There are way to many girls working there not only do we pay for health care for them but their families too. How about the town office be open Monday Wednesday and Friday and make all employees part time. That would save the taxpayer a bundle.
I am also disappointed that the board of selectmen would allow this to happen. The town assisted with residents finding private haulers after the budget. These private haulers undoubtedly invested in equipment or made financial decisions based on the budget vote from the town and the potential business they were expecting. Now, because some residents chose not to inform themselves on the budget they were voting on (or didn’t vote at all until now!), we are doing harm to these private businesses through no fault of their own. This is disgraceful and the board and those residents who chose not to inform themselves the first time around are at fault.
I am a Jay resident, our taxes went up $1200.00 last year and for what? We both are professionals and do not have the time to run to the dump in our very limited time off. Curbside pick up works great for those of us who cannot make the dump, nor have a truck to put trash in. Why not have the towns employees pay some of their health insurance costs like the rest of the working population does? Why should we not have a few conveniences, like simple trash pick up, for our tax dollars and not fully support the town office personnel? We pay enough taxes. Oh, and shame on the town for putting all their tax base in one basket, the mill. Maybe get some people in with a vision beyond the town of Jay??
~Over taxed Jay resident.
I couldn’t agree more with Peter and Overtaxed in Jay. You both hit the nail on the head. We voted on this issue once and I just can’t understand why we did this again? A vote was taken and should have stood. I said it before and I’ll say it again, the Jay Town Selectmen have no backbone when it comes to making any decisions and they are nothing but puppets for people who do nothing but compalin. I, too, will stick with the person I hired to pick up my trash rather than Archies. He is a local guy who spent thousands in marketing and equipment because he was told by the town officials that, for a fact, curbsite pickup was done. Shame on the town officials and shame on the residents of Jay who don’t seem to care that this will make our taxes rise yet again. Just as a side note, I have lived on my street for over 30 years and not once has my road been paved where other roads have been paved time and time again which makes me seriously question if the town officials have a clue about how to create and manage a budget.
I am a resident of No. Jay and I made arrangements to have my trash picked up by a private hauler. I will continue to use this private hauler regardless of curbside service.
I believe what we voted on was the overall landfill budget and not a specific line on doing away with curbside.
Its more cost efficient to keep curbside pickup and shorten the hours that the landfill is open. Then take a look at the pay and health insurance benefits of the landfill employees. That is a win win for both the taxpayers and those of us needing trash pickup.
Do we really need two employees working at the landfill
John Smith and Mom of 3 I agree.
Well stated Peter.
Fed Up- sounds like you need to run for select person.
For those complaining about the reinstatement of curbside pickup, do the math on the cost of it compared to taking trash to the dump yourself or hiring a private hauler. Its completely obvious to me that curbside gets the most bang for your buck. Call it a tax or call it household bill, it comes from the same wallet, yours. I will not cut my nose off to spite my face. Thanks Jay Selectmen for allowing the people of Jay to vote on this great service !!!!
Who is doing curbside pickup for 120k? Is the town of Jay assuming Archies Inc. is…..
Well what you should say Scott White is thank you selectmen for letting us vote again because some didn’t like the first votes results.
I don’t care how ‘professional’ someone is, you likely could find time to get to the transfer station. If not hire a private ‘professional’ hauler. Ridiculous how people no longer take responsibility for themselves.
My first comment is I am not ashamed of my personal opinion so I post them under my name rather than a fictional title. Secondly, all this over 20 cents a thousand mil rate?
Robert Richmond, it’s not all about .20 cents per thousand. Personally, I think it’s upsetting that the town would help private haulers to get set up and then pull their business out from under them after the fact. It’s really irresponsible. I honestly could go either way with curbside pickup happening as I am capable and willing to go to the transfer station, and the cost does not bother me. But this wishy-washy behavior is not friendly to our local businesses who made decisions based on a budget vote that was totally valid (and should have been respected) the first time around.
We can all agree that it should have been handled different.
We voted originally on an overall landfill budget and not a specific curbside pickup line.
Once the information came out in detail we held a simple vote on this one item.
There are ways to now lower the landfill budget based on days open as well as pay and benefits
Does the town have to hire Archie’s back? Most seem to take issue with their services. Could the private haulers take over the towns trash pick up? Then the tax payers don’t have to pay in taxes and pay privately because they don’t want sub par services from Archie’s.
Johnsmith, would YOU work at the transfer station? Would you work there for less pay? Working the dump is a thankless job that is worked by people who are not highly educated for whatever reason or otherwise unable to get employment elsewhere, and you want to take some of the little money they do get to do a job that you yourself probably wouldn’t do. Cutting curbside makes sense, it seems that the lazy people stole a vote, oh, mom of 3, your post makes it sound like you are above paying private haulers and just don’t want to be seen doing manual labor. It takes 10-15 minutes to do a dump run from anywhere in Jay.
The emoyees at the landfill are very nice people. They happen to be the highest oaid landfill attendents in the state.
They have available to them a fully paid heslth insurance benefit for their family. Their paid holidays and vacation time ate second to none.
Moving on to the economics of this vote. I had the choice of adding thirty dollars to my yearly tax bill or paying a private hauler thirty dollars per month. It was a no brainer for me and thats how i voted.
I will still go to the jay dump a couple if times a month like i have for the last fifty years
WELL NOW CURBSIDE IS BACK IN , THEN WE DONT NEED TWO ATTENDANDS AT THE TRANSFER STATION. RITE,WE NEED TO CUT SOMEWHERES.
Thank you Peter for the info. I will be questioning the Town of Jay assisting private businesses getting set up with one of the selectmen. I find that rather upsetting.
We do NOT need the transfer station hours cut back. In our household we go in our own vehicle rather than put out the trash as between the crows and the dogs it ends up all over the road and in the ditch. It is much more convenient for us to do it ourselves as we have since the first week of pick-up so many years ago. We already need to remember that it is not open Monday. You that got your way with the curbside need not take away our right to go when it is handy for us that go on our own.
Hrtlss Bstrd, I myself would work at the transfer station !!!! Good pay, good benefits and honest hard work. As far as being able get gainful employment due to lack of education, that is wrong. People in Western Maine have been hit with hard times with the closing of almost ALL manufacturing in the local area and most people are hard working, blue collar INTELLIGENT uneducated folks. As for curbside pick up, its a good deal, like I said before, do the math!!! Strong opinions should not be spoke behind a pen name.
Too bad all ts brain-storming goes directly into the trash.
Pen names are fine. They allow a person to say what they believe. This way no one can attack them in person. These things happen, have happened, and will happen. That is reality. So shaming or bullying a person for using a pen name is counter productive. As far as the pick up, it’s over for this year, let it go and move on. It will be up for a vote again, just wait and see.
Please – trash pickup is a minimal cost for a great benefit. Why are our taxes so high? Oh let me count the ways!
1) We pay too much for benefits for people working for the town. I have to pay for a portion of my employer-subsidized health insurance, so does everyone I know. Why are we paying so much for town employee benefits? WHY?
2) We have way too many town employees. This is a tiny town and it gets smaller every day. I am not knocking the great job that everyone does – but does our police force need to be that large? Do we need that many folks in the town office? I think probably not.
3) We are supporting a school system that we cannot afford.
We should downsize auxiliary positions, stop paying so much for fringe benefits, and merge with SAD 9 (and thereby reduce their tax bills along with ours).
Just my two cents.
And we don’t need two attendants at the transfer station.
Rocket Scientist, Consolidating school systems doesn’t necessarily reduce taxes, but make sense in some cases like Jay and Livermore Falls, just because of the demografic area of the towns. Have taxes been reduced because of this consolidation?
Have to change a little so comments not confused with other Michael.
We do need two people for the transfer station, for safety and coverage when tasks take one person away from the station.
Good point, Scott. However, I would argue that the reason we did not see a decrease with the merger of Livermore Falls and Jay is because of the declining tax revenue from the mills and other businesses combined with rising costs. Had we not merged, they would have increased significantly more. From a financial perspective it makes sense, but it also makes sense from a resources perspective. The children in this area are severely lacking in resources. The teachers here do a good job making do with what they have, and the community does a fantastic job doing what they can, but the buildings are old and everything is falling apart.
Well I must say this was a thoughtful and interesting debate and it is now it is time to move on. Again, I will use a private hauler because I don’t think we should be stuck with Archies who, from all accounts, does a sloppy job. I can’t take my trash to the transfer station myself because I work full time and, unfortunatley my back won’t allow me to carry heavy garbage. Hiring a small business owner to haul my garbage suits me. A year from now, when Archie’s contract expires, we should get rid of curbside pickup once and for all and let the private, LOCAL and decent haulers have the business. Big is definaley not better. Rob s… maybe I should run for select-woman. I have common sense which seems to be missing in Jay. Oh and there is no way I would use my real name. Like what was said already. I can be honest with my opinions and don’t have to worry about personal attacks.