Holden stays neutral on landfill resolve Resolution to support Old Town dump as state waste disposal site dies

HOLDEN – The town of Holden is one of 160 Maine Review Committee communities that use the Penobscot Energy Recovery Co. in Orrington to dispose of their trash.

For this reason, the Holden Town Council – and community leaders from across the state – have been asked to sign a resolve supporting the West Old Town Landfill as a site the state can use for future waste disposal. But at a special town meeting Friday councilors did not affix Holden’s stamp of approval to the resolve.

Councilor Michael Lagasse started the meeting on a doubtful note: “I’m not sure that we know enough about this to take this position.”

Councilor Clare Payne favored the resolution.

“I don’t think we can be ostriches and pretend that we don’t need a landfill,” she said.

But other councilors shared Lagasse’s doubt, though for different reasons.

“I don’t like the way this has all transpired,” Councilor Ellen Campbell said. “It seems to be a roundabout, backdoor way to save a mill.”

None of the councilors made a motion to adopt the resolution, so it died on the table.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is reviewing a permit that would allow the Old Town site to take in more waste and different kinds of waste. The DEP is holding a public hearing on the issue on Monday and Tuesday.

About 40 of the MRC communities, including Bangor, Belfast, Lincoln, Rockland, South Thompson and Winslow, have endorsed the resolve.

“I’m encouraged given it’s only been out a few days,” said Greg Lounder, executive director for the MRC.

Letters asking individual communities to sign the resolve were mailed on March 18.

The three-part resolve states that the community “supports DEP approval of the expanding license amendments to dispose of additional waste streams at the landfill” and “supports the landfill project” and states the community “is prepared to work cooperatively on initiatives that promote Maine’s solid waste management hierarchy.”

The West Old Town Landfill public hearings are scheduled:

. Monday, March 29, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; 3-5:30 p.m.; and 6-8 p.m.

. Tuesday, March 30, 9 a.m.-noon and 2-8 p.m.

The sessions will be held at the Elks Club, 37 Fourth St., Old Town. For more information on the landfill and the public hearing, visit the DEP Web site at www.maine.gov/dep.