It seems there is a problem with the Boothbay Region Refuse Disposal District’s new compactor room. Giles Rubish Inc. owner Dan Giles expressed concerned about the railing’s width leading into the compactor bins. During the Dec. 10 trustee meeting, Giles explained the new railings were too narrow and prevented his trucks from properly disposing of rubbish.

“I don’t want to complain because they did an excellent job on the compactor room, but the railings aren’t wide enough,” Giles said.

Giles explained his trucks previously backed up to compactor bins and unloaded refuse without any problems. But now, his trucks can’t lower the trucks’ tie-downs close enough to the compactor.

“We used to back into the hopper and all the juices ran into it. But now, we can’t open the tie-downs and all the juices are going on to the floor. It’s not good for you and it’s making a heckuva mess,” he said.

Giles requested the district make the bins more accessible by re-cutting the railings. He also asked for other changes. He wants the district to repaint the lines and provide better lighting for guiding drivers who back their trucks into the bin area.

BRRDD Operations Manager Steve Lewis reported that the lines had already been repainted. However, he wasn’t aware of the problem for Giles’ trucks. Following the meeting, he discussed possible solutions with Mike Tomacelli, owner of Mid Coast Machine Fabrication and Repair.

On Dec. 15, Lewis indicated the problem is more with the railing’s position, rather than width.

“Re-cutting them  isn’t going to work. We are still reviewing possible options. And I will bring them back to the trustees,” Lewis said.

In other action, Lewis presented a preliminary 2016-17 budget. The proposed budget is $1,106,617. The proposal shows a 3.43 percent increase. Lewis attributed the hike to Penobscot Energy Recovery Company’s rising costs.

According to Lewis, PERC is charging the district $10,000 more in tipping fees and reducing original members’ performance credits by an additional $10,000.

“Twenty-thousand dollars of the $36,750 increase is attributed to PERC. We just don’t have any control over that,” he said.

The budget will be further reviewed next month. Lewis expects the trustees to approve the fiscal year 2017 budget in January.

The trustees also reviewed Fiscal Year 2015’s audit. Auditor Fred Brewer reported the district finished about $105,000 in the black.

A $125 Christmas gift was approved for all 10 employees. The gift was included in the Dec. 11 paychecks, according to Lewis.

The trustees will meet next at 5 p.m. on Jan. 14 in the district’s business office in Boothbay.