Transfer Station Task Force

History

In 2016, funding was approved for improvements to the Public Services facility located at 36 Sea Road. The primary focus was on improved access to the site, circulation and renovations to the Public Services garage, administrative space and a vehicle wash bay. 

Additional, necessary improvements have been identified and are under design review by a team led by Sebago Technics. 

Part of the design review identified sevreal options for improvements to the site and each scenario has impacts both operationally and financially. The design team has sought guidance from the Town of kennebunk as to how to consider the Transfer Station in the various design options as the presence of the Transfer Station on the site influences many of the scenarios.

Public Services and Transfer Station

A Transfer Station Task Force was assembled in Janaury of 2021 to evaluate the impacts of the Transfer Station and how it relates to the design of the proposed improvements to the Public Services garage.

The facility is currently under review for upgrades and part of the evaluation is copmlicated by the current placement and operation of the Transfer Station, which is owned by the Town of Kennebunk, but operated under contract by CPRC Group of Scarborough, Maine, through 2025. 

  1. Public Services


    Physical Address
    36 Sea Rd.
    Kennebunk, ME 04043

    Mailing Address
    1 Summer St.
    Kennebunk, ME 04043

    Fax (207) 985-1144


Purpose of Task Force

The Task Force is comprised of two members of the Select Board, two members of the public and Town Staff.  The Task Force began meeting in January 2021 and developed the following purpose statement: 

“The Transfer Station Task Force has been assembled by the Select Board to evaluate the current Transfer Station as it relates to the impacts of the development of the 36 Sea Road Facility.  This Task Force will focus its assessment on the impact to users, the operations of the facility, as well as identify the operational, financial and logistical impacts of the Transfer Station as a resource and its operation and location relative to the 36 Sea Road site.”

Task Force Work Plan

In identifying the need for a comprehensive assessment, the Task Force developed a work plan that would take into consideration the end users of the Transfer Station, as well as balance the needs and the importance to Town operations of the Public Services Department. To that end the following goals were established: 

  • Develop and conduct a User Survey
  • Review, Assess & Analyze Survey results
  • Complete Transfer Station Facility Assessment
  • Develop hierarchy of recommendations based on Transfer Station Facility Assessment
  • Issue Final Report

Overview of Assessment Options

The Task Force identified various options to consider as part of the assessment, which include:

  1. Keep the site as is
  2. Find another location in the community for the Transfer Station
  3. Reduce scope of facility to serve local needs (residents only)
  4. Eliminate Transfer Station (rely on private industry)
  5. Relocate Transfer Station (on-site)
  6. Explore regional approach

Overview of Survey

The Task Force identified the need to solicit feedback from the users of the facility and launched a survey to collect input on how the facility is used and to better understand the behaviors and needs of the public.  This survey was conducted using the online platform Survey Monkey, and paper responses were also collected and manually entered into the software for analysis.

There were over 1,800 respondents at the close of the survey on April 12, 2021.

The survey data will be analyzed to better understand the preferences of the users for the current location and gain perspective in the consideration of the impacts of any of the assessment options. 

View Survey results here

Survey results Opens in new window

Schedule

The Task Force developed a schedule that would incorporate the various elements of the work plan and would culminate in the issuance of a summary report of recommendations to be presented to the Select Board.  The target issuance of the report is the end of June 2021