The Boothbay Region Refuse District will likely have a new billing policy in place next month. District officials are close to finalizing new billing statement language for transfer station and Giles Rubbish customers. District policy is to refuse service to customers 90 days past due. At the March 14 directors' meeting, the board considered including this policy on all future statements. 

“I will check with Sally (Daggett, attorney) and have a revised policy ready for you to vote on,” said Station Manager Steve Lewis. 

In other action, Lewis reported on progress on two technological advances. The district installed a new server and two computers for Giles Rubbish this month. Lewis received an opinion from Dan Pangburn of Osman Page that the current system was “old and slow.” So Lewis bought the equipment after receiving approval from board chairman Gary Farnham to spend $5,049. Lewis needs the chairman’s approval for any purchase over $5,000. 

The district is also installing a switch so transfer station and Giles Rubbish computers can share information from a new computer program. Trashflow was installed into two Giles Rubbish trucks this month. So far, the advanced billing program has worked well with only a few “hiccups," according to Lewis. The district plans on integrating future bills for pick-up and disposal. “If we add the scale component, Trashflow will allow us to integrate billing for both pickup and disposal onto one bill,” he said.

The district is seeking help from Eric Wood Construction of Boothbay. In the past, Lewis used an additional wood chip hauler from a local “broker.” But Lewis believes using a local option will save time and money. “I checked with MMA (Maine Municipal Association), and they said all Eric needed was to add us to his insurance, and he’s already done that,” he said. 

The district is also considering offering Giles Rubbish pickup either at a reduced or no charge for local town offices. According to Lewis, Edgecomb, Boothbay Harbor and possibly Southport hire Giles Rubbish for trash services. The board wants Lewis to report what each town pays per year at the next meeting prior to making a decision.

The directors voted 5-0 to sell a nearly 30-year-old log loader to Neal Main for $1,500. It was bought used in either 1990 or 1991 for $70,000. The loader was used for grinding  and loading wood chips, but its poor condition resulted in its not being used for over four years. “It’s really a liability now. It’s not used so we might as well get something out of it. He is going to dismantle and sell it for scrap,” Lewis said. 

The meeting ended with an executive session on a personnel matter. No board action was taken following the session. The board meets next at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 11 in the district business office.