Halifax Landfill Repair Options Presented to Board of Selectmen
Comprehensive rebuild could generate revenue, expand solar capacity
HALIFAX - January 7 - The Halifax Board of Selectmen received a presentation Monday on two repair options for the Hemlock Lane Landfill, with costs ranging from $40,000 for a limited fix to $1.2 million for a comprehensive rebuild.
Mike Martin, a senior program manager with TRC, outlined the options to address erosion issues that have worsened since 2021.
"We know that we can do an easy temporary fix. It's a lot cheaper, but it's going to continue to happen because we're not addressing the overall problem," Martin said.
The limited repair option, estimated at $40,000, would provide temporary stabilization by rebuilding parts of the collapsed swale and adding riprap patches. However, Martin cautioned this approach doesn't address underlying drainage issues.
The more extensive option two proposes rebuilding the entire side slope and regrading portions of the landfill cap. This plan would involve importing about 96,000 yards of clean fill, with the town charging a tipping fee to offset repair costs.
Martin said the comprehensive rebuild could generate up to $1.1 million in revenue, potentially leaving the town with only $100,000 in out-of-pocket expenses. He noted this estimate could improve further if alternative methods are used to address invasive Japanese knotweed on the site.
The larger repair would also allow for expansion of the solar field on the landfill, potentially increasing the town's renewable energy capacity to over a megawatt.
"You could have an over-a-megawatt system, which would also increase revenue for the town from a renewable energy standpoint," Martin explained.
Board members expressed interest in the more comprehensive option but requested additional time to review details and consider public input before making a decision.
"I think everyone agrees to that. And it sounds to me like the wise way would be to try to fix it as opposed to just patching it," said Board Chairman John Bruno.
The board plans to tour the landfill site and review historical documents before further discussion.
In other business, Town Administrator Cody Haddad reported significant savings for residents through the town's electricity aggregation program.
"I'm happy to share that this past quarter we saved the community as a whole $71,000, and over the past five quarters we've saved Halifax residents $500,000 just by being part of this," Haddad said.
Halifax's current rate of 15.178 cents per kilowatt hour beats the largest state aggregation's rate of 15.784 cents, which covers 26 cities and towns.
The board also conducted Haddad's annual performance evaluation, giving him an average score of 3.87 out of 4. While praising his overall performance, board members suggested improvements in communication and transparency with the public.
Haddad acknowledged the feedback, stating, "I want to make sure I'm striving to do what I can. So I kind of welcome everyone's feedback in that category in particular."
The board discussed potential strategies to enhance public engagement, including holding meetings at various locations around town and consolidating social media channels to provide clearer communication.
Additionally, the board approved a contract with Paul S. Kapinos and Associates for Assessing services through fiscal year 2027, with an increased cost in the final year due to recertification requirements.
The meeting concluded with updates on upcoming budget discussions with School Committees and the start of Finance Committee departmental budget meetings.