HARTFORD — Selectmen on Thursday night approved a proposed solid waste ordinance, which will be on the annual town meeting warrant.
Chairman Lee Holman thanked the Ordinance Committee for its work. The ordinance gives selectmen the authority to establish rules and regulations to cover some details of the town’s solid waste disposal program.
“This will let future boards make minor changes in the rules and regulations as conditions in the town change,” Holman said.
She once served as the transfer station attendant.
“In that job, I had confrontations with people who wanted to dispose of prohibited items,” she said.
Under the proposed ordinance, those who dispose of inappropriate items can have their transfer station privileges revoked.
Ordinance Committee member Arthur Harvey said the committee thought that provision would stand up to legal challenge as long as the rules and regulations set by the selectmen were reasonable.
Selectmen agreed that the section prohibiting disposal of “septage” for roadside pickup or at the transfer station applied to waste from septic systems, and not to disposable diapers.
Selectmen briefly discussed developing an ordinance to regulate the construction of new homes on unused roads. Such construction can be expensive for the town if it must maintain the road to new standards. However, closing the road takes value away from the property.
Selectman Jack Plumley suggested that, since this was such a complex issue, the Ordinance Committee consider it after town meeting.
The board also decided to consider road acceptance requirements in the new fiscal year.
Selectmen reviewed the list of foreclosed properties for unpaid 2010 taxes. The town can place liens on property eight to 12 months after taxes are committed. Taxes are usually committed in October. If the back taxes are not paid, the property is automatically foreclosed 18 months after the date of the lien.
Owners of foreclosed property must pay all taxes due, or make arrangements with the selectmen for a payment plan that will discharge the debt.
“We don’t want your property, we just want you to pay your bill,” Holman said. She said that in the past 10 years, there have only been three or four properties actually sold by the town.
Selectmen pointed out that there are numerous opportunities to serve the town. Interested residents are urged to contact the Town Office to learn of openings on town committees and other places where volunteers can serve.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
