Residents press commission on trash pickup schedule; officials point to contract decisions and extra-can option

Residents urged the commission to restore two trash pickups per week and raised concerns about odors and flies; commissioners and staff described the contract review process that led to the current once-weekly pickup with optional additional carts, and said they will invite Waste Pro to present options to the commission.

One resident described maggot problems and asked how to make cans "maggot proof." Residents also said Homeowners Associations that require cans to be stored inside garages find weekly service difficult. Commissioners recalled a resident committee that reviewed proposals; that committee recommended the once-weekly pickup option with a low-cost extra-cart option rather than returning to twice-weekly service because repeating twice-weekly service would have been significantly more expensive.

A commissioner gave specific numbers: the current once-weekly service costs about $24 per month; returning to twice-weekly service in the proposals received would have roughly doubled that to about $44 per month. The commission said Waste Pro (the town's new contractor) will be invited to address operational questions, extra-cart costs and options for residents. Staff and commissioners also suggested communications explaining low-cost extra-cart options (the meeting recorded $2.25 per month for an additional cart and $1.70 for an extra recycle cart) and practical tips for reducing flies and odors while the town evaluates options.

Why it matters: trash pickup frequency and vendor choices affect costs for residents, HOAs and the town; changes would require contract adjustments or higher resident fees.

No policy change was adopted at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to arrange a presentation by Waste Pro and to provide clear communications about options and pricing to residents.