Bulky waste policy 'doesn't make sense'

OTISFIELD —  Selectman Rick Micklon told the Otisfield board, September 19, that he disagrees with the Casco-Naples Bulky Waste facility policy that pertains to commercial contractors. 

Micklon, who is an Otisfield-based building contractor, said he is not sure why he needs a permit to use his company truck to haul debris from home. 

"That irritates me," he said during the meeting. "I just don't understand that."  

Micklon confirmed Monday that residents of Otisfield don't have to pay to use the facility located on Leach Hill Road in Casco. 

"Whoever pays their taxes in Otisfield gets a sticker from the town office that allows them to use the bulky waste facility at no charge," he said. 

According to the Otisfield town website, for a commercial contractor to haul in bulky waste from their own residence the contractor needs to get a day pass to use the facility but does not have to pay. 

Commercial contractors do, however, have to pay at the scale or set up an account with the facility if they are hauling waste from a worksite. If they are working for an Otisfield taxpayer, they must get a pass from the town office to use the facility, according to the website. 

"I'll bet you, if you take all of the trucks [in town] that have our [company] names on them, it can't be 30 people," said Micklon.

Administrative Assistant Marianne Izzo-Morin said there was an issue at Casco-Naples Bulky Waste in the past when a resident used his company truck to haul in waste from out of town. 

"That's why they made the policy that, if you are doing it for your business you have to have a [pass] for the name of the person that you're working for," Izzo-Morin explained. 

Micklon said he did not agree with the policy, stating that he's been asked to get a permit even for jobs in town. He said he feels that he is not being trusted to follow the rules. 

According to Micklon, his problem has always been that he can't even haul debris from home without a permit because all he drives is the company truck.

"If it's coming from my own house, I still have to go through the process [to get a permit]," said Micklon. 

Micklon said his son Kabe, who also works for Maine Building Development in Otisfield, drives a company truck that is not lettered and is still told he needs a permit. 

"It's registered to the company, but is not lettered. He has even tried taking my debris from home, and they've said, 'we can't let you do that,'" Micklon explained. 

"Now he's not allowed to go there, because they know he's my son," said Micklon. "I think that's discriminatory." 

Micklon said he thinks the whole bulky waste process is "convoluted." 

He said other contractors in Otisfield have been given extended passes to use the facility and that he, too, will look into getting a pass. 

Chairman Hal Ferguson said at the meeting he doesn't think it's right that any resident can personally haul debris from their home without a permit, but if a local contractor were to haul that same debris they would need a permit.

"I personally don't think it's right," said Ferguson. 

"I think we should send them [Casco-Naples Bulky Waste] a letter stating that just because somebody works for a contractor, doesn't mean they can't dump there," said Selectman Lenny Adler. 

"It just doesn't make sense to me," said Micklon. 

According to the town website, material accepted at Casco-Naples Bulky Waste facility includes but is not limited to: roofing shingles, porcelain fixtures free of metal hardware, tires free of rims, waste oil, pressure-treated wood, building demolition debris, brush, furniture, mattresses and other bulky items.