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Advisory finance panel backs short‑term transfers to fund waste‑station attendants
Summary
The Westborough advisory finance committee recommended three budget transfers to continue part‑time attendants at the transfer station, approving two unopposed transfers and one landfill shift over a dissenting concern about ongoing operating costs.
The Westborough Advisory Finance Committee voted Sept. 30 to recommend separate transfers to cover staffing and operational costs tied to the town’s waste‑management program, including an adjustment that adds an 8‑hour‑per‑week attendant at the transfer station.
Town staff told the committee the program currently relies on two 19‑hour‑per‑week, grant‑funded coordinator positions and that the proposal would add a third, 8‑hour position to help cover busy hours. Staff said two grants provide $30,202 toward the roles and identified a remaining fiscal‑year balance of about $48,002.50 needed to cover the three part‑time positions through the year.
The committee handled Article 2 motions as discrete votes. Member McMahon moved to recommend a $25,000 transfer from the finance department salary line to the finance department expense line; Member Bradley seconded and the committee recommended the transfer 9–0–0. A second motion to transfer $35,000 from police salaries to police expenses passed 9–0–0.
On the landfill line item — a proposed $48,250 transfer from landfill expense to landfill salary/wages to fund the additional attendant — members debated enforcement, monitoring and whether the program’s savings will justify the added staffing. One committee member voiced opposition, saying, "I’m not gonna be voting in favor of this transfer. I think the program, while well intentioned, I would like to see dedication put on other expenses and things that are happening throughout the town that this is distracting us from." The committee nevertheless recommended the landfill transfer 8–1–0.
Staff emphasized that some program savings are already visible in lower tonnage charges and that the Harvey’s contract will allow town enforcement on the property; staff also said negotiations to include remote surveillance in the contract were unsuccessful because monitoring would be on private property. The town indicated it had discussed liability with its insurer and that Harvey’s had agreed to terms about enforcement and insurance in the new contract language.
Members asked staff to pursue better operational data collection — including counts of people turned away and hourly coverage patterns — so the town can evaluate whether and how long it needs three part‑time attendants going forward. Staff said tonnage data is already showing reductions and that they will present updated figures ahead of next year’s budget process.
The committee’s recommendations are advisory; each transfer will go before the full town meeting for final action.
