Newport selectmen’s meeting set > Town will likely seek extension of dump closure deadline

NEWPORT — The impending closure of the town’s stump dump will be the topic of a special selectmen’s meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, June 26, in Newport.

The town is under an order from the Department of Environmental Protection to close its demolition debris and stump dump area, according to Town Manager Arthur Ellingwood.

The process has been going on for several years, and a recent closing agreement from the DEP set July 15 as the closing date.

But Ellingwood said this time frame does not provide enough time to bid out the project, which is expected to be coordinated by Consolidated Engineering Services of Brewer.

The board will decide next Monday about hiring CES and requesting a monthlong extension.

“We don’t expect any problems with an extension request,” said Ellingwood.

In addition, he said, the latest draft of the closure agreement contains a reimbursement clause.

“The first closing agreement was appealed informally after a section that stated we were eligible for reimbursement funds was omitted. The latest draft has that clause back in,” he said.

“There is no money right now, since the bond issue failed last fall,” he said. “But there will be another referendum in the fall and we’ll apply under that.”

Ellingwood said the project is expected to cost $51,583. A 75 percent reimbursement would be $38,680.

“There is $59,997 in the solid waste reserve account, so we will use that money for the closure,” said Ellingwood.