Brentwood select board sets default 95‑gallon carts, directs staff to finalize automated-collection policy

The Brentwood Select Board voted to set 95‑gallon carts as the town’s default for both trash and recycling and directed staff to draft a formal procedure for switching from manual to automated collection and for handling exceptions and bulky‑waste pickup. The board asked staff to confirm with contractor Casella whether larger carts change the town’s costs, whether Casella will handle a resident mailing, and the price for additional barrels.

Why this matters: The decision affects how households receive service, who pays tipping fees, and how the town communicates and enforces collection rules while an ordinance (which would require a town meeting warrant for enforceable penalties) remains under consideration. The board discussed start dates, special exemptions for mixed commercial/residential properties, bulky‑item collection frequency, and how existing sticker programs will be phased out.

Board members opened the discussion by outlining two parallel tracks: (1) draft a town policy describing cart sizes, eligibility, special exemptions and bulky‑waste procedures that staff can implement without a warrant; and (2) reserve an ordinance and town‑meeting warrant if the board later chooses enforceable penalties. A Select Board member said the town counsel (referred to in the meeting as Attorney Morgan) advised that some solid‑waste rules may require a town‑meeting warrant because certain statutes use “town” (meaning town meeting) rather than “select board.”

On cart size, the meeting record shows prior debate and some earlier votes. After public comment and discussion, the board voted to reconsider the prior cart‑size decision and then voted to set the default sizes to 95 gallons for trash and 95 gallons for recycling. A board member noted she was “getting it in writing” from Casella on whether the larger cart itself would change the town’s contract cost beyond tipping fees.

Public commenters urged larger carts and flexible options. Mark Kennedy, a Brentwood resident, said, “I would much rather have as a resident extra room in my trash barrel and not need it than need it and not have it.” Another resident, Liz Ferriero, said she was “totally opposed to 2 big ones” citing mobility and long driveways. Several residents proposed allowing residents to request a smaller or larger cart at signup, or to pay a one‑time fee to upgrade.

Key logistical items the board directed staff to confirm or include in the draft procedure: whether Casella or the town owns and will deliver the carts (meeting discussion centered on conflicting contract language and on a board member’s report that Tony confirmed Casella owns the carts), whether Casella will pay for or perform a mass mailing to residents (a mailer cost estimate discussed: roughly $2,500 for envelopes; postcards would be cheaper; postage about $0.69 per household), whether a delay in rollout (August 15 vs. a proposed September 1 start) would affect the town’s budget line, and the price and annual fee for any optional additional barrels. The board asked staff to obtain written confirmation from Casella on these points.

Bulky‑waste collection and stickers: The board discussed keeping one or two curbside bulky‑waste pickups a year (members suggested April and October) with a menu of prices to pass cost to residents, and noted that the town’s existing $5 stickers for transfer station drop‑off will not be valid for curbside pickup under the automated contract. The board also discussed offering a permanent cardboard dumpster at the town shed if Casella will provide and service one under contract.

Decisions and next steps: The board approved a motion to set default carts to 95/95, voted to reconsider the prior cart‑size vote, and directed the account administrator and staff to draft a procedure and send it to the board for review by the end of the week. The punch list given to staff included: draft the procedure, confirm with Casella whether cart size changes costs and whether Casella will handle the mailing, get the cost for an additional barrel, and check whether Casella will waive any extra charges if the rollout is moved from Aug. 15 to Sept. 1. The meeting ended with the board moving into a nonpublic session under RSA 91‑A for personnel matters.

What remains unresolved: the exact start date for automated collection, whether Casella will provide the mailer and/or not charge for a later start date, the written contract clarification about cart ownership, and the final fees for additional barrels or bulky‑waste pickup. Staff was tasked to return with written confirmations and a draft procedure for the board’s review.