Residents and board clash over transfer-station changes, sticker distribution

Public comment at the Shapleigh select-board meeting centered on recent changes at the town transfer station and how the town is distributing stickers for access. Scott Folsom and multiple other residents told the board the new arrangement has caused long waits and confrontations with employees. "Traffic volume and speeds have increased noticeably," said Scott Folsom during public comment about a separate road issue, and several residents used the meeting to say similar concerns about safety and access at the transfer station. Residents urged the board to allow sticker issuance at the transfer station or to authorize interim measures to avoid confrontations with staff.

Board members and staff said the changes stem from a contract the town signed last year, which reduced compactor availability and resulted in the use of 'silver bullets' for recycling. The administrator said the town issued nearly 1,700 new transfer-station stickers since June 15 and that the compactor vendor change was driven by the single bid the town received. The board described current enforcement practice as: allow dumping, record license-plate numbers, and pursue administrative follow-up rather than on-site confrontation when residents are aggressive. One resident asked for a formal apology to transfer-station employees; members seconded the idea for consideration but did not record a formal board apology vote in the minutes.