GREENE — Residents presented selectmen with a petition Monday which could open the transfer station on Sundays and create a pathway to remove town officials from office, if approved.
The petition comes nine months after the transfer station was closed on Sundays due to a shortage of workers, according to town officials.
Petitioners hope to compel the town manager to open the transfer station for four hours Sunday by amending the town manager ordinance. The ordinance specifies the responsibilities of the position.
Transfer station hours remain a common point of discussion on the community Facebook page, Citizens of Greene.
“The biggest issue, and it’s still an issue because of the hardship on a number of families in this town, is the dump not being open on Sunday,” said Robert Hack, a resident and petition circulator.
If the proposed amendment to the ordinance passes, residents will also be able to seek the removal of the town manager or any of the selectmen from office by circulating a petition calling for a recall vote.
Resident Jason Rowe said they collected an estimated 330 signatures for the petition.
According to Rowe, the town has up to seven days to confirm the signatures, which must number at least 267, representing 10% of the residents who voted in the last state governor’s election.
After that, the town must schedule a public hearing no later than 45 days after the petition was submitted.
Board Chairman Anthony Reny said the proposed changes would be reviewed by Maine Municipal Association legal counsel.
During the meeting, selectmen agreed to include Sunday as a desired workday in the transfer station job postings. It had listed only Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
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