Hooksett holds public hearing on proposed change to recycling ordinance that would end condo tip‑fee reimbursement

Hooksett Town Council opened a public hearing at its August meeting to take public comment on proposed amendments to Recycling and Transfer Ordinance 31 that would remove the town's partial tip‑fee reimbursement for condominium associations and update language about curbside recycling. The hearing was closed the same night; the council will not vote on the amendment until at least seven days after the hearing, per the town's procedure.

The change is part of budget trimming the administration presented after the council twice failed to pass the proposed operating budget. Town Administrator Andre (last name not recorded in the transcript) told the council he searched department budgets for savings and proposed eliminating the condominium tip‑fee reimbursement as one such cut. Ben (DPW director) told the council the town paid $71,613 for the reimbursement in the current year for 1,341 condominium units, or about $53.40 per unit.

Advocates for keeping the reimbursement said the change would fall hardest on older residents and homeowners associations that already pay private contractors for trash pickup in addition to paying town property taxes. Frederick Bishop of Stonegate Condominiums said the proposed elimination "will make this situation even worse.…