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Townsend Board approves invoices, reviews recycling grant spending and plans food‑permit outreach ahead of July 1 styrofoam rule
Summary
The Townsend Board of Health approved town and health invoices, reviewed recycling grant dollars and WasteZero service costs, and discussed delivering food‑permit notices in person ahead of a styrofoam restriction effective July 1.
The Townsend Board of Health on June 8 approved a batch of town and health invoices and reviewed recent recycling, cleanup and grant spending while preparing for a styrofoam restriction due to take effect July 1.
Staff presented invoices including charges to UMass Memorial Health and travel for new employee Jeffrey Moon, plus vendor invoices to Completely Recycling Solutions, Bob's Tires and others. A board member moved to approve the invoices and the motion passed with all in favor.
Staff reviewed spring cleanup operations, noting mattress and metal pickups and a dumpster that had been emptied. Reported tonnage for the period was 108.37 tons of trash and 46.37 tons of recycling. Staff said approximately $42,000 remained in a Department of Environmental Protection grant (noted in the packet) and that the board was requesting a $41,541.75 spend to purchase 85 large bags and cover program management costs.
On program management, staff said WasteZero has collected net receipts of $34,763 to manage ordering and deliveries; staff described the arrangement as the town owning the inventory while WasteZero handles orders and delivery logistics. Board members suggested waiting a full year of data (for example, July through September cycles) before making staffing or structural changes to the program.
Board members and staff also discussed food‑service permit inspections and outreach ahead of a styrofoam regulation that goes into effect July 1. Staff said there are 37 establishments on the list that need to be contacted; exemptions include school systems and certain grocery/meat‑prep operations. Members emphasized personal delivery of notices to help ensure compliance.
The board asked staff to itemize food permits on the next agenda and to return with further financial analysis once a fuller year of program data is available. The meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m.
Next steps: staff will pursue the requested grant spending per the approved warrant, prepare a detailed program analysis for future meetings, and personally deliver food‑permit notices ahead of the July 1 restriction.
