Woolwich residents on private road want curbside pick-up

Keeping with tradition, the Woolwich selectmen held their June selectmen's meeting at the old meeting house on the Old Stage Road Monday evening.

This time, however, they were met by some very upset residents.

About 18 families that live on a private road in the Sewall subdivision found out recently they would no longer have curbside trash pickup, and they came to the meeting to express their disappointment to the selectmen, whom they feel are responsible for the change.

Don Marsh told the selectmen the citizens on private roads were never notified that such a change was even being considered, or they would have spoken up much sooner. "Shame on you," he said.

"What I am asking is that the selectmen reconsider the contract with Pine Tree Waste," Marsh said.

Selectman Todd McPhee said, "We cannot sign a different contract. This contract with Pine Tree Waste was approved by the vote of the people at the town meeting."

According to the selectmen and Karen McNaughton, of Pine Tree Waste, the major reason for the change is due to the potential damage to private roads, that may be caused by the rubbish trucks. Since the town does not have either the right or the responsibility to make sure that private roads are maintained to acceptable standards, the town cannot afford to take on the liability associated with sending garbage trucks down private roads.

Marsh told the selectmen that the residents of his road would be willing to sign a waiver not to hold Pine Tree Waste or the town responsible for any damage caused by the trucks.

Selectman Dale Chadbourne told the residents that their trash was still going to be picked up, but they would need to take it to the nearest intersection with a public road.

McNaughton told the group Woolwich is not the only town that does not offer curbside service. She said Bath, Brunswick, Auburn, Lewiston, and Pownal do not have curbside pickup. She also said if private roads had been included in the contract, the cost would have been much more.

The selectmen suggested that the residents work with Pine Tree Waste to determine what the fee would be to pick up trash on their road.

Several residents said it is the town that should pay, not them. One woman said she would take a tax credit if curbside pickup is not offered to her by the town.

McNaughton said she would come up with an estimate of the cost to the residents on the private road for curbside pickup. "It will be very minimal," she said.

It would appear that the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) has finished work on the George Wright Road. According to Woolwich Road Commissioner Jack Shaw, MDOT has done a great job, at a cost of about $300,000 to the state.

This town road was used as a detour for about three months while the state made repairs to the Nequasset Bridge on Route 1 in Woolwich. MDOT agreed to do the work on the George Wright Road in exchange for allowing it to be used as a detour.

The selectmen selected John Vigue to build the handicap ramp at the town office at a cost of $1,000.

The next selectmen's meeting will be held Monday, June 30, at 6 p.m.