DEEP RIVER

The Deep River Board of Selectmen (BOS) approved interlocal agreements regarding a shared Animal Control Officer (ACO) for the Tri-town area, as well as the collection of hazardous waste, at a special meeting held on April 1.

The agreement regarding the ACO was signed by the former BOS lead, Angus McDonald. It was formalized to strengthen the retention of the position, which is currently occupied by Caroline Fountain. According to Deep River First Selectwoman Carol Jones, the town has had “a very difficult time keeping people employed as a part-time [ACO],” adding that, “All three towns have suffered the same thing,” in reference to Chester and Essex, as well.

Fountain has already been serving as ACO within a regional capacity for a few months, and this agreement elevates her position as a full-time employee serving Chester, Deep River, and Essex.

Jones added that the agreement “would be more beneficial and also attract a more qualified candidate to stay on full-time” in the future.

Jones praised Fountain for doing a “wonderful job” in the ACO position, referencing her involvement in a January incident in which Jean Jameson of Deep River was charged with 55 counts of animal cruelty.

Jones said there is the possibility that the Town of Westbrook may co-sign onto the agreement in the imminent future. If that comes to fruition, she stated that “we're probably gonna have to hire a part-time Animal Control Officer perhaps to help with it.”

“But also make the amount that we pay into this a little less,” Jones added.

The First Selectwoman specified that as of now a full-time ACO would be budgeted for approximately $46,000 in the next fiscal year budget. If Westbrook joins the agreement, that figure may be reduced to $30,000.

The BOS and small audience of citizens unanimously approved of the agreement.

The BOS moved on to approve a interlocal agreement between towns in the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments (RiverCOG) that would see the placement of waste facilities for hazardous materials and paper shredding collection in several of the representing towns, including Deep River.

The facility in Deep River will be a satellite location among others in regional agreement. It will have a “household hazardous waste” collection day at the town garage on August 17, accepting materials such as cleaners, arts and craft supplies, mothballs, and latex paint, among numerous others.

The facility would not be located at the transfer station in order to avoid the mixing of acceptable and dangerous non-acceptable materials.

“You definitely don't want people dumping poisonous products or pressurized containers into the transfer station,” said Jones.

Jones said the agreement has been in place for a decade with no towns leaving it, but added that the Town of Essex no longer wanted to have the only permanent collection station at its transfer station. Per the agreement, several towns will have their own station for the collection of hazardous material.

The new document, which was approved by member towns of RiverCOG and Deep River’s town attorney, is a “very good thing for the town, and it would cost more if we don't participate in it,” said Jones.

The cost of the facility is to be budgeted to be approximately $4,200 per year. Deep River residents will be able to use the facility for free.

Local businesses are welcomed to use the new waste facility, according to Janice Ehle/Meyer, the community resource planner for RiverCOG.

“We have it that a business would contact me first at the RiverCOG, telling me that they have business waste to get rid of,” said Ehle/Meyer. “I send them information asking, ‘What is the waste? How much do you have?’ I send that information to our vendor, and they can look at the price and, if the business agrees that they will pay this price, they come to our regular collection first thing in the morning with a check and pay for disposal.”