FARMINGTON — The Farmington Compost Cooperative [FCC] survey was discussed at the Tuesday, Feb. 14, selectmen meeting.

“The other day we had a couple of people come in to the town office to talk about the compost pile down at the dump,” Selectman Chair Matthew Smith said. “There’s a group that is trying to expand that and in the process they have a survey out that they would like to have people take a couple of minutes and participate.”

Hard copies of the survey are available at the Farmington library and the town office, Smith said. Email links have been posted on the town’s website and flyers at the town office explain the survey a bit more, he added.

“I appreciate the newfound energy they are putting into this,” Selectman Stephan Bunker said. “Dr. Tom [Eastler] used to be really appreciative around this site, it was a project of his.”

With more food waste going into composting, less would be transferred to solid waste disposal, Bunker noted.

The seven question survey asks about the respondent’s residency, composting history, their knowledge of FCC and if compost has been purchased. It also asks about interest in taking part in a pilot project where food scraps could be dropped off at the FCC site on Dump Road and if more information on composting is desired.

“I am hoping this will stimulate more interest in getting that waste into compost and also have more use of the great compost that comes out of the system,” Bunker stated. The compost is sold a couple times annually, he added.

FCC is trying to get more local businesses involved, Smith said.

The survey may be taken online at shorturl.at/oyJ48. For more information email dominique.dispirito@maine.gov or call 207-446-2611.

In other business selectmen voted not to advertise in the 2023 spring western region edition of Discover Maine Magazine. The one-sixth full color ad would have cost $395 with funds coming from the Special Projects Account.

Selectman Joshua Bell moved to pass on it this time and Smith seconded.

“They have multiple editions throughout the year,” Bell said.

This copy is one of the few documents for tourism that gets some exposure to our area, Bunker said. “I am sad to see it not being utilized but I understand,” he noted.

The vote was 3-1 with Selectman Byron Staples, Bell and Smith in favor and Bunker opposed. Selectman Scott Landry was absent.