Town Meeting refuses to fund condo trash pick-up
Published on October 22nd, 2008
STONEHAM, MA - Town Meeting rejected a bid by condo owners on Monday to tack $100,000 into the municipal budget for trash pick-up this year.
Celia Schulhoff, the secretary for the Gates Condomiums along Marble Street, attempted to amend Article 10 by adding $100,000 to the public works budget for rubbish removal.
Although the amendment eventually failed in a 41 to 19 vote, Town Meeting later endorsed the original spending measure, which sought to withdraw over $680,000 from the stabilization account to pay for capital repairs and underfunded school utility accounts.
According to Schulhoff, town officials had refused to notify condo owners that they had a March deadline to opt back into the municipal pick-up services.
When the Selectmen first imposed a trash fee over three years ago, various condominium associations entered into private agreements for refuse disposal. By doing so, the condo owners were able to avoid paying the higher trash fee, which has ranged from $150 to $170.
Schulhoff pointed-out that the town is obligated to pick-up trash from condominiums, based upon a Town Meeting vote over a decade ago. She further argued that the condo owners, who all pay taxes, were never given adequate notice of the March deadline to opt back into the municipal service.
“There wasn't any form to allow us to opt back into the program,” the Marble Street resident said. “It certainly helps to have pick-up subsidized by the town, which we feel entitled to because we are taxpayers like every other individual home.”
According to Selectman Frank Vallarelli, the town shouldn't be held responsible for the trash pick-up because various condo associations failed to meet the March 1 deadline.
The Selectman contended that the various entities decided to roll the dice this spring, betting that the town would again institute a garbage fee. When town officials ultimately failed to re-adopt the rubbish charge, the condos lost that bet, Vallarelli contended.
“You really shouldn't be blaming the own. There was a clear-cut date when the condominiums should have opted back in. You kind of gambled and you lost,” the Selectman said.
Last February, Town Administrator David Ragucci presented a budget without a trash fee in February, but the Selectmen didn't actually endorse the proposal until months later.
That same month, the Selectmen voted to abandon the trash fee unless Stoneham's municipal unions join the state's Group Insurance Commission (GIC) by May's Annual Town Meeting - which was held after the March deadline expired.
Fellsview Terrace resident Paul Materra challenged Vallarelli's description of a firm deadline, claiming that he never had any knowledge about the town's policy.
“Not once did we ever hear any information about an option to opt back in,” said Materra. “We just want what we deserve. Taxpayers should be treated equal.”
Elmhurst Road resident Edie Previdi later rejected the condo owners' claims that they were being treated unfairly.
According to Previdi, the condo owners switched to private contractors in order to save money, while the rest of the town's property owners were left with little recourse but to pay the $170 charge.
Pearl Street resident Susan Hito agreed, recalling that she had to pay $450 for trash disposal at her three-family home, despite the fact that two of the units were vacant.
“Ten years ago, we welcomed you into our neighborhood [by requiring the town to pick-up your trash],” said Previdi. “But you cant expect us [to vote for you] when we have to pay this trash fee and you run away. Either you in with us or you're out with us.”
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