Finance Committee approves unpaid DPW bills and discusses refuse enterprise deficits and mattress dumping

The Finance Committee recommended paying a package of prior-year DPW bills and discussed mounting pressure on the refuse enterprise, including options to offset a growing deficit.

CFO Troy Clarkson told the committee the DPW pays thousands of invoices a year and recent staffing shortages have contributed to processing delays for unpaid bills. Commissioner Pat Hill said the refuse line includes a large invoice from Republic Services and that some contract elements (prevailing wage increases) applied to the FY25 period. "There is no penalty," Hill said about late fees on the Republic Services invoice, and he explained that contract timing meant some charges could not be paid from the prior fiscal year's budget.

Councilors pressed for options to reduce costs and discourage illegal dumping. Hill said MassDEP funds have helped buy barrels and upgrade CCTV cameras: "We've issued this year to date, like, $19,000 in fines, that have been paid," and he added there remain roughly $10,000 outstanding. He warned that without changes, the refuse enterprise's FY26 deficit could exceed $1 million; Commissioner Hill estimated roughly $1.2 million. The committee recommended the unpaid-bills orders and a transfer from certified free cash to DPW refuse retained earnings to close the prior-year deficit.

Councilors asked the ordinance committee to explore targeted fee changes (e.g., mattress or bulky-item fees) rather than raising base trash rates. The items advance to the full City Council.