The long-delayed Transfer Station reconstruction is stalled as the Board of Health awaits environmental permitting to break ground on the $1.6 million project.
“The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has asked for information from the engineers and architects,” Public Health Director Andrew Petty said, adding the request deals with additional details and schematic drawings. “Once they complete that review, we hope the MassDEP grants a permit.”
The waiting comes after the Planning Board approved site plans in August.
Petty had hoped to put the project out to bid in the fall and start construction before winter.
“Technically, the MassDEP takes a long time to review these permits, and so we went and met with them during the summertime to ask them to try to expedite,” he told the Current.
Yet, four months later, the MassDEP still has not granted the appropriate permit. Petty said the town anticipates having the permit in hand before year’s end.
“We plan to put the project out for bids in January,” Petty said.
What if bids come in too high? In order to stay within budget constraints, Petty said they may have to break out project elements, deferring certain aspects until additional funding is secured.
The proposal involves enhancing the current Transfer Station by revamping its structure, substituting the old compactor with a new one, refining the site’s grading, shifting the scale to a different location, constructing a new scale house to replace the old one, updating the swap shed and introducing a new transaction shed at the residential drop-off zone.
Mattress fees going up
The Board voted to adopt a new fee schedule for disposing of mattresses after Petty proposed hiking rates for nonresidents.
Petty outlined current monthly totals for mattress disposal to highlight usage volume, including 260 units in September and 204 in October.
Petty said the town currently charges $35 to dispose of mattresses and box springs regardless of residency. He recommended keeping the $35 rate for residents with valid facility stickers while doubling it to $75 for nonresidents, bringing Marblehead in line with nearby communities.
Promoting health, wellness
The board discussed an initiative to steer residents wanting to improve their physical and mental well-being to an array of local fitness centers, nutritionists, counselors and support groups.
“We have resources in this town,” said member Tom McMahon, who suggested linking the town’s website to health and wellness resources. “I think we should promote both mental and physical health.”
Chair Helaine Hazlett agreed that diet, stress relief and medical care are also crucial pieces of the health puzzle.
“You have a lot of enthusiasm, but there’s a lot that goes into it other than physical education,” she told McMahon. “I think we need to expand your thoughts on other areas.”
Ex-NBA player talk
Petty reminded residents about an upcoming talk by former basketball player Chris Herren about his journey with drug addiction and road to recovery.
Herren will share his story with Marblehead students during school on Jan. 10. That evening at 6:30 p.m., he will deliver a presentation for families and community members in the high school auditorium.
Petty said Herren’s visit is being organized by Marblehead Public Schools and the Parent Council Organization.
“Chris had a successful professional basketball career when he lost it all to the disease of addiction,” Petty explained. “Chris has now been sober for 15 years and assists others with this goal of having a positive impact on them.”
Trash, recycling reminders
Marblehead provides curbside trash and recycling collection Monday through Friday, except holidays, using three collection trucks for all routes. All waste receptacles must be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on pickup days or crews may not return if collection is missed. Residents are permitted to set bins curbside after 6 p.m. the evening before pickup.
The town has fielded complaints from residents missing collections. Republic Services, the contracted waste hauler, can verify what time trucks were down each street.
Petty reminds residents to adhere to recycling rules like rinsing and flattening boxes, with full guidelines found at RecycleSmartMA.org. If crews cannot collect overflow materials, they will affix yellow notification stickers to the uncollected bins.
