On the Agenda: the Memorial Day Parade, PAYT and the Clean Energy Choice Program grant.
First on the agenda was the discussion and vote on changing the time of the Memorial Day Parade. American Legion, Picard Post #234 parade organizers proposed that the ceremony be moved to 10am from the usual 2pm. In a letter, Algonquin’s Band Director, voiced her concern that the the Marching Band would have difficulty participating in two parades on the same morning, given that Southborough’s parade is also in the morning. Selectwoman Fran Bakstan indicated that the issue before the board was not to approve the length or route or content, as long as there are no safety issues, but only to approve or deny the event time change request. All Selectmen, Legion members, and veterans in the audience agreed the overall intent is to involve more the of community in this solemn event to honor those who have fallen in the line of duty serving the country.
Next the Board continued the debate on the PAYT program. The Board voted to continue the trash pick-up as an enterprise fund and will continue their deliberations as to how the fee structure should be set for the coming year in order to cover the $287K program deficit. Leslie Rutan indicated she felt that users of the program should pay for the service fully, while Jeff Amberson felt trash pick-up was more of a public service to be supported by all.
Regarding the fee structure, Leslie Rutan explained that after hearing a great deal of public input she found there was no one solution satisfying most of the population: “There are a variety of answers [to the fee structure of the program], but there is no clear winner.” Public opinion varies considerably based on the amount of weekly household trash and the perceived level of inconvenience of a purchased trash bag system.
Fran Bakstan cited Ashland and Concord trash programs as being successful two-tiered programs having a bag fee (a user controlled portion) and a subscription portion to cover fixed costs. A subscription or flat fee only structure would not provide an incentive to recycle, most likely resulting in an increase in the tonnage of trash making the cost structure unsustainable at that price level as variable costs would rise. The low flat fee structures do not cover the fixed costs (distribution, delivery and storage of the bags) and thus may be unsustainable if more households were to migrate to a private carrier.
Dawn Rand acknowledged that whatever structure is decided upon, “in fairness, we will need to revisit this [program fee structure] every year”. The fee structure discussion will be continued next Selectmen’s meeting on 22nd. Prior Post.
Assistant Town Administrator Kim Hood brought the Clean Energy Choice Program grant before the board for acceptance. The grant of $20,493 was based on residents’ energy choice elections, together with a state matching program which ran from October 2004 to February 2009. With this restricted renewable energy grant, the town elected to buy solar trash compactors for Ellsworth-McAfee Park and solar lights for the patio of the new senior center.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE KEEP PAYT. It is fair and equitable and encourages recycling. Don’t fall prey to unfounded fears of switches to private haulers or concerns of the lazy. PAYT works.
Trash Pick-up – The $75 – $79 one time per year flat fee/Keep the trash bags at current rate. Do this for 1 year and then check and see how it worked.
Memorial Day Parade: Advertise 1 month before: Schools (letter home to parents), Posters in Town, Cable, Selectmen, Try new time for one year and then analize.
Chris:
Please explain what kind of program you want. PAYT can be structured many different ways. Thank you.
A big THANK YOU to Chris Woodcock. Many residents like to have a fair and equitable trash removal system, but not everyone can say it so nicely in just two sentences. A low yearly fee and keeping the bags at the same price encourages recycling. A high yearly fee encourages people to hire a private hauler.
A low yearly fee ($75-$79) and $3.00 large bags will encourage the high volume user to hire a private contractor. PAYT and an enterprise fund are completely different programs. The enterprise fund program will not be self sufficient if the program continuously loses participants. The enterprise fund will not be successful with large numbers of residents paying $75 and putting out 40 bags a year. $75 + (40 x $3)= $195. Unfortunately as more people leave the program the flat fee will have to increase encouraging more people to hire the private hauler. If you disagree with my conclusion please attend either the next SWAC or BOS meeting so that we may hear your arguments. Thank you.
PAYT is not working and that is why the Board Of Selectmen is holding hearings before restructuring the program. All of the taxpayers in town have been supporting the trash program’s deficit for the past few years. That is not how an enterprise fund works. The town needs to let it run as an enterprise fund like the water and sewer fund.
It was not the Vincent F. PicardAmerican Legion
Post that wanted to change the Memorial Day Parade in Northborough, it was Richard Perron.
Thanks for the clarification, Mary. Since Richard Perron wasn’t presenting the proposal at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting, but Gerald Bourque, Ed Bombard and Ron Koshko (two of whom were dressed in Legion dress), it appeared to be an organization decision. I’m gathering there has been differences of opinion, I hope those planning the event can arrive at a compromise to satisfy the needs of the Parade committee, town veterans, the school band and the community who come out to participate and pay tribute.
[...] no longer. NorthboroNews,org reports parade organizers asked for approval to move the parade from the afternoon to the morning in an effort to increase attendance. After some debate and some [...]