Ragucci rejects condo owners bid to use town's trash services
Published on October 8th, 2008
STONEHAM, MA - Town administrator David Ragucci rejected a bid by several condo associations to enroll back into Stoneham's trash pick-up services.
According to Ragucci, several condo associations across town have indicated a desire to utilize the town's disposal services now that the Selectmen have dropped a $170 rubbish fee.
The various condo owners had entered into a private agreement for trash disposal in order to avoid the refuse charge imposed by the Selectmen in recent years.
The town administrator denied the request to use the municipal pick-up services because the addition of new customers would throw Stoneham's FY'09 budget out-of-balance.
"The condo association failed to notify the town of their desire to have it picked-up [by the deadline]," Ragucci explained. "As I explained, the policy is what the policy is and we have not funded that pick-up."
The town administrator also informed the Selectmen that Stoneham will start a new pilot program that rewards local citizens for increasing the amount of recycled waste they bring to the curb.
Under the arrangement with Recycle Bank, residents will be able to dispose of all recyclable materials in one container, instead of separating out plastic, paper, and metal cans.
"You roll it out, a bar code on the scale will weight it, and you can bet points with a dollar value for stores like Target," Ragucci said.
School Building Committee disbanded
The town's Board of Selectmen recently voted unanimously to disband Stoneham's School Building Committee, paving the way for the release of nearly $400,000 in funding into local coffers.
The Building Committee, which oversaw the construction of several new elementary schools in Stoneham, has indicated that it no longer has any reason to continue operating.
The new South School was the last project the Building Committee was responsible for overseeing.
According to Selectman Richard Gregorio, formally disbanding the committee will allow Stoneham to recoup $400,000 in funding left over from the various school construction projects.
Town officials hope to use the money to pay for the cleanup of Stoneham High School that occurred after a transformer fire broke out at the building last May.
"The Stoneham Selectman a number of years ago formed a School Building Committee. I'd like to offer a motion to officially dismiss the School Building Committee," said Gregorio.
Taste of Siam
A new Asian eatery will open-up its doors at the former Georgie D's location along Main Street across from the South School.
In unanimous votes, the Selectmen granted a common victualler license and a liquor license transfer to the R & W DiNunzio Corporation, which will take over the restaurant space at 497-499 Main Street.
The Thai restaurant will be called Taste of Siam.
According to local attorney Steven Cicatelli, who represents the owners of Georgie D's, the Italian eatery plans to reopen at another location in the Stoneham Square area.
Ralph DiNunzio, who will manage the restaurant, claimed that no exterior renovations would occur at the space. The petitioner also promised to maintain the valet service at the eatery on a daily basis.
"Nothing is going to change other than the menu and the decor," said DeNunzio.
Selectman Frank Vallarelli pointed-out that the valet service was not operating every night out of the former restaurant.
"The valet was sporadic unfortunately because the business was sporadic," Cicatelli admitted.
"When we gave out the original [permits], a lot of neighbors were concerned. They're not here tonight, so I assume there fine," Selectman Paul Rotondi later said.
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