Selectmen mull over imposition of recycling fee
Published on June 4th, 2008
STONEHAM, MA - The town's Board of Selectmen will deliberate later this month on whether to institute a recycling fee next year.
During this Tuesday's Selectmen meeting, Public Works Director Robert Grover warned that his budget did not contain enough funding to foot the full cost of the recycling program.
Grover suggested that a $30 fee be imposed to cover the estimated $55,000 shortfall, if the Selectmen didn't decide to re-implement a trash fee.
"I understand that no formal decision has been made as to whether there's a trash fee," the DPW director said. "These stickers expire on June 30. Even though we run the recycling [yard], it's not free."
"We are not giving out the stickers [for next year] because I don't know if they'll be free or if there'll be a charge," added Grover, who listed the program's cost at $75,000.
Last February, the Selectmen unanimously agreed to end the garbage fee, should the town's unions not agree to enter the state's Group Insurance Commission (GIC) by the start of last May's Annual Town Meeting.
During the annual May assembly, the Selectmen indicated that they would still consider a refuse charge, if the unions agreed to join the state's health insurance pool by the start of the next fiscal year.
At least one Selectman, veteran Robert Sweeney, has since indicated his support of a trash fee next year, regardless of whether the town's employees join the GIC by July 1.
In previous years, the rubbish fee has included the cost of the recycling stickers.
New budget process
Selectman Richard Gregorio convinced his counterparts on Tuesday to start planning for next year's budget immediately.
According to Gregorio, his forecasts were already predicting that Stoneham would face at least a $1 million deficit next year, assuming that revenues and costs remained steady.
"The pet peeve I've had on the budget process over the past few years is we know right now what the budget will look like," the rookie Selectman said. "The Board of Selectmen should come up with a guideline on what we expect our budget to look like in 2010."
Selectman Paul Rotondi backed Gregorio's suggestion, arguing that advance planning would give department heads time to adjust expenditures and identify new revenue sources before they were given a last minute spending mandate for the coming fiscal year.
Rotondi added that if the Selectmen had a better handle on the budget forecasts, it would be easier to identify ways to restore programs and positions to the budget, should Stoneham receive an unanticipated boost in revenue.
Zoo liquor license
Acting in their capacity as the town's liquor licensing authority, the Selectmen endorsed a request from Zoo NewEngland for a one-day liquor license later this June.
Representatives from Stone Zoo approach the town annually for the alcoholic license, in order to run its largest fundraiser of the year.
This year, the event will be held on June 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Although liquor will only be served during that time, the license extends for a three day period, in order to allow for delivery the day prior and pick-up the day after.
"This is our annual fundraiser. It's an exciting year for us because we just opened a new black bear exhibit," said a Zoo NewEngland representative, plugging the non-profit's newest acquisition.
Two bonds approved
The Selectmen also approved the bonding of over $780,000 of capital and infrastructure repairs on Tuesday night.
Interim Town Treasurer Dianne Murphy presented two separate bonds to the Selectmen for approval, one for $587,975 and another for $192,625.
Eastern Bank was lending the larger amount to the town at a 2.3 percent rate, while Union Bank submitted the low bid for the second bond at a 3.75 percent rate.
"We did go out for multiple bids on these...for both bonds?" Sweeney asked.
"Yes we did. We received four [bids] on one of them and two on the other," Murphy responded.
According to Selectmen Chair John DePinto, the larger bond amount would cover $400,000 worth of drainage improvements along Spring Street and MacArthur Road and $187,975 for the repair of the Arena roof.
The smaller bond would cover the costs associated with the replacement of the Arena boards and glass, as well as for the taxable portion of the Arena roof replacement.
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