Selectmen: Bulk Item Disposal Cost Will Fall to Residents

DPW Bulk Disposal Cost Will Now Fall to Residents

Superintendent of the Department of Public Works Mark Ryan presented the Board of Selectmen with information on the expenditures the town makes yearly in bulk item disposal at Tuesday night's meeting.

The projection through the final two months of fiscal year 2012, is $145,275 in bulky item disposal cost to the town, Ryan said. When residents don't take advantage of removal servces by carpet and mattress companies, break down items or reuse them, the cost falls upon the town in disposal.

The DPW proposal included charging homeowners the disposal cost of $25 for each bulk item thrown away, maintaining the current regulation of three per week, per residence. Residents could also bring the bulk items to the Winter St. composting facility themselves for no charge.

The savings for the town under this proposal, Ryan said, would be between $115,000 to $117,000 per year.

Selectmen Allan Howard and Paul Bishop were immediately in favor of the proposal, while Selectman Helen Abdallah Donohue voiced concerns that residents may not have big enough vehicles to transport their own items and that something like this program could cause an increase in illegal dumping.

"I have a real problem with this concept," she said.

Ryan said he didn't believe that dumping would be a rampant problem.

"People are too proud of their town to be dumping junk around here," he said.

In the end the Board voted 4-1 to approve the program starting later this summer.

Board Honors Stuart Plumer for 33 Years as Library Trustee

The Board presented a proclamation from the town to Stuart Plumer, longtime member of the Library Board of Trustees.

"It's so commendable when people volunteer for the town and put in so many years," Selectman William Plasko said. "It's nice for us to be able to represent the town's people in saying thank you."

Plumer, who has spent 33 years as a Library Trustee, was presented with a plaque from State Representative John Rogers as well. The Board noted his 11 time chairmanship, and work on the library renovation project.

"It's remarkable how beautifully the whole project went," Selectman Donohue said.

"I thank you for this honor, but mainly I want to thank the people of Norwood," Plumer said.