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Georgetown committee approves $246,610 solid waste budget for 2025–26
Summary
The Georgetown Solid Waste Management Committee approved a $246,610 budget for fiscal year 2025–26, addressing equipment reserve shortfalls, rising hauling and hazardous-waste costs, and modest increases to utilities and operations lines; members also reviewed transfer station operations and possible ordinance changes.
The Georgetown Solid Waste Management Committee approved a $246,610 budget for fiscal year 2025–26 at its March 13, 2025 meeting via Zoom.
Terry Taylor, representing the Finance Advisory Committee, reviewed the draft budget and recommended modest increases to several lines to reflect expected cost pressures. Taylor said the equipment reserve fund currently stands at $22,050 after a recent roof replacement and recommended adding $4,000 to the reserve to address upcoming needs. The committee discussed a compactor replacement estimate of $21,500 (hydraulic ram $18,800; power unit $2,400) and noted that container replacement could add an estimated $6,000–$8,000 if needed.
Transfer Station manager Jim Coombs reported operational details that shaped budget assumptions: Lincoln County Recycling (LCR) will begin collecting rigid plastic April 1 and last year the town collected 4.33 tons of that material; an e-waste pickup occurred about a week earlier but the invoice had not yet arrived; snow removal and a sinkhole repair at the metal drop-off performed well this winter.
Committee members agreed on specific line items: a phone/VOIP and router budget of $1,100; safety equipment at $500; training at $200 (most training can be conducted at the Town Office without registration fees); utilities increased to $1,100; a recommended household hazardous waste (HHW) allocation of $5,000 in response to increased resident disposal; Lincoln County Recycling contract set at $14,941 following a 2.9% contract increase; and a universal waste line increased to $4,000. Terry proposed budgeting $119,000 for hauling and tipping fees, a 4.4% increase reflecting slowly rising charges.
After discussion about timing for maintenance work (pothole repair estimates of $3,500–$4,000 and the option to sign a contract in the current fiscal year for work performed in 2025–26), David (Dave) Polito moved to approve the proposed 2025–26 solid waste budget and Alison Freeman seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Members also reviewed potential ordinance changes sent by Bronwen Tudor and discussed enforceability and staffing constraints. Tudor noted the committee had received an emailed summary of proposed ordinance edits. Committee members said some changes—such as consistent placement of vehicle stickers—are complicated by vehicle sensors and staffing limitations, and agreed more discussion is needed before any ordinance hearing.
The meeting closed with scheduling and housekeeping items. The committee set its next regular meeting for April 10, 2025, and adjourned after a unanimous motion to end the session.
Votes at a glance: the committee unanimously approved acceptance of the Feb. 13 and Feb. 20, 2025 minutes and unanimously approved the 2025–26 solid waste budget totaling $246,610.
