By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Trying to balance the public’s need and the needs of town employees, the Bridgton Select Board Tuesday reconsidered its previous decision to change the Transfer Station’s hours and days of operation.

For years, the transfer station operated on the “T's and S's” — Tuesday and Thursday, Saturday and Sunday — from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Select Board was presented four different options by Public Service Director David Madsen at their May 30 meeting, and decided to go with an employee suggested Option 1 — Tuesday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Since the decision, several Select Board members heard feedback from the public, claiming the change posed both inconvenience and problems. Officials decided to reconsider the matter Tuesday.

Select Board member Bob McHatton questioned the timing of the change as Bridgton is about to “explode” with summer visitors. He recommended that the town return to the previous T's & S's schedule through Labor Day, then hold a workshop with Madsen and Transfer Station manager Forrest Kollander to discuss the daily operation and personnel needs, including whether employees could rotate schedules to have a weekend off while the Transfer Station could maintain existing days and hours.

“We’re here to serve the public, we’re not here for the public to serve us,” McHatton said.

Board Chair Carmen Lone heard opposition to the 3 p.m. closing time from one commercial hauler and several private citizens. She hoped to find a compromise.

“I would like to see us come up with a work schedule that serves the public but it is also important for us to be good employers,” she noted.

The Select Board felt Option 2 might be that compromise. It calls for the Transfer Station to be open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Select Board member Paul Tworog, who supported this option during the original discussion, feels Option 2 removes concerns regarding the facility closing early, but does keep the station closed on Sunday.

Madsen said Transfer Station workers were aware that the previous decision was under reconsideration, and that a new option could be used. Madsen added that if the Select Board put in place a new schedule — which was up for review after a year under the original decision — he could generate data for officials to look at when they meet at the Oct. 5 workshop (5 p.m.). Madsen said workers simply want two consecutive days off.

Select Board member Carrye Castleman-Ross heard an “initial rush of discussion” but talk has settled down.

“You will never please everyone. Maybe we give it a shot on a trial basis,” she said. “We’ll continue to get feedback and we can see how it goes. People will deal with it.”

Some chatter on social media questioned whether visitors might dump trash into the woods if the Transfer Station is closed on Sunday, their departure day.

“People that come here for vacation appreciate Bridgton for its pristine environment, and will not ditch trash in the woods. I understand it is a concern, but I don’t see it happening on a major scale,” she said.

The Select Board decided to try Option 2, effective July 1.

In other business:

• Not changing course on Town Office hours. Since the Select Board reconsidered the Transfer Station hours, Bob McHatton hoped to reverse course regarding Town Office hours.

The board recently agreed to try a four-day work week, closing the office on Fridays.

McHatton opposed closing on Fridays — “the busiest day at the Town Office.”

“I don’t have a problem with a four-day work week, but I have problem with the four days you are working. On Friday, a lot people are coming in from out of town and doing business in our town office,” said McHatton, who suggested closing the office on Tuesdays instead.

Since a move to reconsider requires someone who voted in the affirmative to raise the motion, the item failed when no one called for reconsideration (McHatton was unable to bring the motion since he voted against the office change in the first vote).

When the Select Board voted on the revised Town of Bridgton Personnel Policy, which includes office hour changes, McHatton cast the lone dissenting vote.

• Convenience for residents leads to new lease. Although the Bureau of Motor Vehicles has yet to bring back its mobile units — shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic — the state remains interested in signing a new lease to house the operation in the lower level of the Municipal Building.

One stipulation Select Board members found as a sticky point is use of the space when DMV plans no activity there. The room is the primary meeting area of Bridgton boards. Officials hoped to strike an agreement that if DMV is not using the space, the town could schedule meetings or other events.

Select Board member Carrye Castleman-Ross felt housing the DMV unit here is a benefit to residents, who otherwise need to travel to either Lewiston, Scarborough or Portland to renew or seek a new driver’s license. Select Board member Paul Tworog concurred, adding the town can be collecting rent money even if the mobile unit has yet to return.

Town Manager Bob Peabody told board members they were being asked to accept conditions, return the revised lease to DMV and once it is signed by the state, the agreement will return to Bridgton for review and the town manager’s signature.

“It’s a convenience for the people of Bridgton. We have an aging population, so it’s a good service for our people,” said Board Chair Carmen Lone. She felt more comfortable that an automatic lease renewal was dropped from the proposal, instead calling for a review in two years. “That’s not even a term for a selectman. I am only uncomfortable that there is no projected start date. It’d be nice to know; I’m okay with it.”

The board voted 3-2 to accept the proposal; McHatton and Ken Murphy voting against.