Selectman to debate recycling sticker fee July 8
Published on June 25th, 2008
STONEHAM, MA - The public works department will continue to honor last year's recycling stickers until the Selectmen decide next month whether to institute a fee for use of the recycling yard.
According to Public Works Director Robert Grover, he will recommend that a $30 recycling sticker charge by imposed on July 8, when the Selectmen are scheduled to discuss the issue. Grover would not advise the charge, if the Selectmen were to impose a trash fee in FY'09.
"Right now, we'll have to honor the old ones," said the public works director, when asked what will happen when the current stickers expire on June 30. "If you have the sticker that was valid on July 1 of last year, that will be extended for a period of time."
For the last three years, the cost of maintaining and operating the Steven's Street recycling yard has been included in the trash fee, which has ranged from $150 to $200 since its inception.
Currently, the FY'09 budget has approximately $25,000 slated for the municipal recycling yard. Grover estimates that he needs about $60,000 in additional funding to foot the bill associated with the program at the Steven's Street property.
Earlier this month, the public works director cautioned that the recycling program was underfunded. The Selectmen were scheduled to discuss the issue last week, but that meeting was canceled.
The Steven's Street yard, utilized by approximately 2,100 residents each year, is open several days a week, allowing residents to dump yard waste free-of-charge.
For a fee - $20 for televisions and fridges and $10 for other white goods - residents can also dispose of other materials.
According to Town Administrator David Ragucci, he supports Grover's recommended $30 charge for a recycling sticker.
In addition to keeping the yard open, the revenues from the fee should be enough to foot the bill for a clean up of the area, which has fallen into some disrepair and become overgrown with grass and other plantings.
While Ragucci supports the recycling fee, he will not back any efforts to impose a rubbish charge again next year.
"At this point, I would say no. There's certainly needs that need to be addressed in town, but I wouldn't recommend a trash fee in FY'09," the Town Administrator said.
"I mean, let's face it, people are struggling hard enough as it is to make ends meet," Ragucci explained. "I wouldn't feel comfortable recommending a trash fee."
According to Selectmen Chair John DePinto, town officials are only slated to discuss a recycling sticker charge on July 8.
Last February, the Selectmen voted 4 to 1 to reject the garbage charge, if Stoneham's municipal unions had not agreed to enter the state's Group Insurance Commission (GIC) health insurance pool by last May.
Since that time, Selectmen veteran Robert Sweeney has publicly supported the garbage fee, regardless of whether employees agree to join the GIC. The town's collective bargaining units are currently negotiating the health insurance shift with Ragucci and other town officials.
"I would say that right now, the trash fee is off the table. That doesn't mean another Selectman can't put it on the agenda," said DePinto. "I assume if or when there was to be a trash fee, the recycling fee would go away, like in the past."
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