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DPW warns Waste Management transport fees could nearly double; town considers buying roll-off truck
Summary
Department of Public Works Director Seth Carroll told the Budget Committee that contracted transportation costs under the town's Waste Management proposal could rise from roughly $109,000 in 2025 to about $198,000 in 2026, prompting discussion of a lease-purchase to acquire a roll-off truck and higher fuel assumptions for any in-house hauling.
Department of Public Works Director Seth Carroll briefed the Budget Committee on Oct. 30 about the DPW's consolidated budget and a looming decision about whether the town should continue to rely on contracted transport for solid waste or buy/lease a roll-off truck and haul material itself.
Carroll said Waste Management's proposed increase in transportation fees would raise the town's cost substantially: committee members cited an estimate of roughly $109,000 for 2025 and nearly $198,000 for 2026 under the vendor's proposed contract. Carroll argued those rising transportation fees make a town-owned roll-off truck financially attractive in the medium term because it would let the town control where material is hauled and avoid steep contract increases.
Operational detail: in addition to transport fees, Carroll pointed to fuel assumptions for an owned roll-off truck. The DPW estimate included about 52,100 gallons for a year of hauling to the current disposal location (Rochester), and the committee discussed how those fuel costs would be offset by removing the vendor transport fee line and using existing or leased equipment paid through a lease-purchase line.
Why it matters: solid-waste transport is a substantial and growing line-item pressure on the town's operating plan. The decision will affect operating costs, capital spending (a lease-purchase or warrant article), and where the town sends its solid waste. Committee members asked DPW to return with a detailed lease/lease-purchase versus contract-procurement cost comparison.
Committee action: because the selectmen are continuing their review of the Waste Management proposal and the potential vehicle purchase, the committee deferred a final vote on the solid-waste budget. The broader DPW operating budget as presented, which consolidates multiple DPW functions under one umbrella for shared staffing and equipment, was approved by the committee.
Next steps: DPW will prepare a detailed transport-cost comparison, including fuel, lease-purchase amortization, capital-reserve impacts and potential long-term savings, and return to the selectmen and the Budget Committee for further review.
