At its March 26 meeting, the Transfer Station Committee voted to recommend new pricing for this year’s Transfer Station stickers: $100 for non-seniors and $50 for seniors, age 65 and older. The committee had previously recommended an $80 sticker price for everyone when the SMART program begins on July 1.
In addition to a sticker, residents will be required to buy specially marked trash bags. The committee has proposed seniors receive 30 small or 15 large free bags at the start of the program, and that recommendation will not be affected by the new pricing model.
Committee Chair Tom Philippou announced the vote at a Board of Health meeting later that night, and told the board that, based on the number of senior stickers sold last year, the new pricing model change will not affect sticker revenue.
The Select Board must ultimately decide on sticker pricing and regulations. At its March 5 meeting, when it voted to allow up to two stickers per household, there was no plan for a senior discount. If the board approves the recommended pricing model, the senior/non-senior household dilemma returns.
Essentially, the question is how many stickers should a household get if only one member is a senior, and which vehicle can that sticker be affixed to? Last year Town Hall staff began following more closely regulations that existed at that time and issued discounted senior stickers only for vehicles owned by a senior. In response to complaints about the stricter enforcement of the regulations, the Select Board voted July 10 to allow only one sticker per senior household but to allow that sticker to be used on any vehicle registered at that household’s address.
Philippou told the Press that, in his opinion, if the Select Board approves the recommended pricing model, it should not affect the two stickers per household regulation the board has already passed.
The Transfer Station Committee scheduled a public information forum on the new SMART program March 28 in upper Town Hall at 7 p.m. Residents are strongly encouraged to attend and ask questions or voice concerns. More forums are planned prior to the start of the program
