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Richmond staff propose transfer‑station fee increases and fewer public days; council authorizes public‑hearing advertisement
Summary
Town staff recommended raising demolition and disposal fees and shifting transfer‑station public hours from four days to three (Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday) to reduce overtime and close a roughly $73,000 operating shortfall; council authorized advertising ordinance changes for public hearing.
Town staff told the Richmond Town Council they are seeking authorization to advertise ordinance amendments to chapter 8.18.03 (Transfer Station) that would raise several disposal fees and adjust public hours to reduce staffing and overtime costs.
The finance and public‑works presentation said construction/demolition debris fees should move from $150 to $165 per ton and that air‑conditioner disposal, which had been free, should carry a $20 charge. Staff also recommended clearer tire‑category definitions. Officials said the transfer station ran about $73,000 in the red last fiscal year (after Hopkinton’s contributions), driven by increased use and staffing overtime. To address the shortfall, staff proposed reducing public service days to Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday while keeping Monday vendor haul‑out operations.
Councilors asked for proactive public notice and signage before the public hearing and for clearer web updates (staff said the website schedule would be corrected). Some council members urged caution about eliminating weekday access; staff said the change would be effective after the first of the year if adopted and that Hopkinton had been notified. The council voted to authorize advertising the ordinance amendments for public hearing; staff will prepare notices, updates to the website, and outreach to frequent users.
If adopted after a public hearing, the changes would alter both user fees and the transfer station schedule; staff said they will bring back cost projections for the next budget cycle once data are available.
