WILTON — The Board of Selectpersons reaffirmed Tuesday that residents may not hire private trash haulers to take waste and recyclables to the Wilton Transfer Station.
The issue arose as the town shifts its contract for refuse hauling to a new company July 1. Town policy already prohibits private haulers from collecting from residences and businesses, so Tuesday’s vote simply reaffirmed that rule.
Selectwoman Nancy Allen asked Public Works Foreman John Masse about the policy, and he said private haulers that pick up trash in town must take it to the Waste Management Crossroads Landfill in Norridgewock — not at the town’s expense.
Selectman Keith Swett asked how the town could bill for privately hauled trash and recyclables.
“That’s the issue,” board Chair David Leavitt said.
The town pays disposal and recycling centers based on the weight hauled from Wilton, so if the town’s refuse were mixed with trash from elsewhere, Wilton could end up paying to dispose of waste from other communities.
Town Manager Maria Greeley said the town has not budgeted for private pickup since 2010. The town collects residents’ trash and recyclables at the Wilton Transfer Station at 211 Munson Road. It is open Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the fall and winter, shifting an hour later in the summer.
On Jan. 20, the board voted to change haulers, contracting with Gregory’s Disposal of Fairfield at a cost of $300 per trip for 2026-27.
Gregory’s replaces Archie’s Inc. of Mexico, which for years has hauled trash for many towns in Franklin and Oxford counties.
Trash goes to the Waste Management Crossroads Landfill in Norridgewock, and recycling “goes to (a sorting center in) Mexico, and they pack it up,” Masse said.
Leavitt suggested the board might want to revisit its trash ordinance to see whether it needs updating.
The board also heard three reports.
Charlie Woodworth, executive director of Greater Franklin Economic and Community Development, told the board that work to connect the county to fiber internet is “pretty much done.” With 96 percent of the county now having fiber access, the next task will be teaching “the elderly how to be successful using the internet,” he said.
Woodworth also told the board about efforts in Rangeley to increase the number of available child care spaces and to build housing for local workers in Rangeley and Carrabassett Valley.
“We’d love to partner with you and help you chase the federal funding” for such projects if Wilton is interested, Woodworth said.
Noelle Coyne, CEO of the Western Maine Community Action Program, told the board that the program had provided 242 energy payments totaling $139,746 through the Home Energy Assistance Program, along with $14,748 in emergency heating aid for 68 residents.
The emergency program is for residents who need heating assistance immediately.
Also in Wilton, she said, Western Maine CAP provided $78,950 in food assistance for 115 families through the Women, Infant and Children Supplemental Food Program, $40,220 in weatherization for four houses, $33,000 for 55 senior food boxes and $4,000 to upgrade central heating in one house.
In other matters, Swett voted against approving the minutes of the March 3 board meeting.
“I can’t vote on four pages of minutes,” he said.
He said reviewing the meeting video to verify every statement in the minutes would take too much time.
Greeley asked whether board members had any guidelines to offer Aaren Wilcox, the new town clerk, on preparing the minutes. Selectwoman Tiffany Maiuri said she would work with Wilcox on recording and writing them.
The board approved the minutes 3-1, with Swett voting no. Maiuri abstained because she had not attended the March 3 meeting.
The board also approved the purchase and installation of a generator for the Wilton Water & Wastewater Department. Adrenaline Electric of Farmington won the bid with an offer of $29,400.
Mid Maine Generator of Winthrop submitted an unsuccessful bid of $32,301.83, and IEC Electrical & Data Services of Strong submitted one for $55,570.
Wilton has set April 1 for a public meeting to gather residents’ opinions on collaborating with Jay on police services. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the cafeteria at Academy Hill School.
The board has suggested conducting a straw poll at the meeting to gauge residents’ preferences among four possible collaboration plans.
Nomination papers are available at the Town Office at 158 Weld Road for the June 9 town election, which will be held in conjunction with the state primary.
Wilton will fill two seats on the Board of Selectpersons and one three-year seat and one two-year seat on the Regional School Unit 9 (Mt. Blue) board of directors.
Nomination papers are due April 10 at the Town Office.
