Guilford to ask Dover-Foxcroft to share cost of trash study

GUILFORD – Selectmen voted Tuesday to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of the town joining the Dover-Foxcroft Regional Solid Waste facility, if Dover-Foxcroft shared the $2,000 cost of the study.

Membership in the neighboring facility is one of three options under consideration by Guilford town officials. Other options include curbside pick-up of trash and building a new transfer station on Blaine Avenue. The board intends to present two of the three options to residents for consideration at the annual town meeting.

The town must cease use of its current transfer station on Elm Street because it is too close to homes and was never permitted by the state.

Dover-Foxcroft officials said they would consider Guilford’s membership if the town conducted a feasibility study and the results were favorable to the facility.

But Guilford officials suggested that even if the study determined the move would be beneficial to the regional facility, there is no guarantee that Dover-Foxcroft residents, who have the ultimate say, would approve the move. Nor is there any guarantee that Guilford residents would vote to join the regional facility, according to Guilford Town Manager Tom Goulette. With those facts in mind, the board suggested it was fair to ask Dover-Foxcroft to share the cost.

Goulette said there is room for negotiations with Dover-Foxcroft.