WOOLWICH

The town’s Solid Waste and Recycling Committee came under criticism from one of its own members Monday night.

Linda Crawford told the Selectboard that the committee wants to purchase new red recycling bins for new residents of the town, and is showing favoritism in its choice of roads for a proposed spring cleanup. Board Chairman David King suggested a workshop between the Selectboard and the committee.

Crawford said she is unhappy with the committee’s attitude.

“The chair wants to buy new trash bins for new residents,” she said. “What about the old residents, and the cost? It was obvious at the last town meeting that residents don’t want to spend an extra dime on anything. This committee seems to spend money without the understanding that it’s taxpayers’ money. They just seem to think that it’s their own private committee.”

Crawford also objected to the use of colored ink on brochures, because it’s more expensive than black ink.

The spring cleanup on a certain road, she added, shows favoritism.

“If you do it on one road, somebody’s going to want it on another road,” Crawford said.
King responded that education is part of the Solid Waste and Recycling Committee’s purview. New recycling bins could be considered part of that, King said, but he added that informational brochures might suffice.

Selectboard member Jason Shaw said that, at $12 to $18 per bin and two per new household, the bins are “not a wise use of taxpayer dollars.”

Crawford added that the committee “wants to incur the wrath of the Selectboard and do what we want.”

King reiterated that education is part of the committee’s charge, and added that he is hesitant to “micromanage” the committee.

“I think it would be a real slippery slope,” he said.

Shaw responded that managing money “is the town’s job.”

The Selectboard met for the final time this summer at the Nequasset Meeting House, which is slated for some renovation. The next board meeting is set for Sept. 3 at Woolwich Central School, and the board will continue to meet at the school until the addition is complete at the Town Office.

Bids for the Town Office job are due on Sept. 3.  Residents have agreed to spend up to $300,000 on the project, which will include an expanded Town Office and handicapped accessibility in that portion of the Municipal Building.