Leniency Could Be Granted for Transfer Station Stickers

There will not be any more large groups of cars denied access to the Bulky Waste Transfer Station on Old Turnpike Road this April – at least not if the Public Works Committee has anything to say about it.

After nearly 300 local residents were turned away from the transfer station on Saturday because they did not have the proper sticker, the committee took action Wednesday and forwarded a recommendation to the Town Council that leniency be granted throughout the month of April for those who have an old sticker but have not renewed their privileges.

“We thought would be a few stragglers but when people come in, in droves like they did, we just weren’t expecting that,” said Steve Wlodkowski, Superintendent of the Southington Highway Department. “It’s something we needed to adjust to.”

Members of the committee took on the issue Wednesday afternoon as a result of feedback they received in regard to the first weekend, in which 33 percent of visitors were sent home carrying the same trash they came with.

Customer service remains a concern, several committee members including Town Councilors Chris Palmieri and Al Natelli said, and will remain so through the end of the month. Eventually the town will need to stiffen up on the rules however, Natelli said.

Under the town’s program initiated a year ago, residents are able to use the transfer station free of charge if they have the correct sticker. The program runs annually and is designed to save thousands in costs previously associated with accommodating trash from out of town, Committee Chairman Peter Romano said.

In just one year, the town has saved $128,000 at the transfer station and has seen a reduction of about 7,000 vehicles as a result of the sticker program, Romano said.

The exception this year, which still needs to be approved by the council, won’t last forever though and Wlodkowski said he would like to see the town adhere strictly to regulations in the future.

“A body in motion stays in motion and we’ve set three bodies in motion with this,” Wlodkowski said. “We need to move away from hand-holding mode. It’s like renewing driver’s license or [vehicle] registration - you need to have a threshold. What happened Saturday given us a great opportunity to show residents they need to take responsibility for what they have to do, which is get a permit. If we change the process then we are deflecting the problem.”

Wlodkowski said that although nearly 300 were turned away, 500 people did the right thing and were satisfied, outnumbering those who may have been upset. He said the anger would eventually lead those turned away to get their permit and simultaneously prevent problems in the future.

The committee is also considering other recommendations as well to deal with the problem. Romano asked Wlodkowski that if there are future issues with 50 or more people being turned away, staff should contact Town Manager Garry Brumback.

Furthermore, Brumback and Town Engineer Anthony Tranquillo said the town could consider renewals for Jan. 1, one of the slowest times of the year, rather than in April when the transfer station is often at its busiest.

Palmieri, who has said he would still prefer a two-year renewal program, also suggested setting staff from the Town Clerk’s office up during the first few weeks each year to renew stickers on site.

Ultimately though, the responsibility has to be placed on residents to get their registrations said committee member John Leary in a letter. Leary was unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting.

“Beach, boat passes and many others require annual renewal and adjustments can be made to make the process as seamless as possible,” Leary said.