Henniker Select Board adopts updated solid-waste fees and ordinance

The Henniker Select Board voted unanimously on Sept. 17 to adopt a revised solid-waste fee schedule and to approve an updated solid-waste ordinance that modernizes what items the town can accept and updates penalty and fee language.

Chair opened a public hearing on a proposed solid-waste fee schedule and accompanying ordinance (the hearing cited RSA 41:9-a). Selectman Marco, who served on the advisory committee, described the review as a cleanup of dated language and an effort to align the ordinance with current disposal practices. "We're not doing it as a profit center," Marco said, adding the goal is to break even and be fair to residents who must bring debris to town facilities.

The proposed ordinance makes the list of acceptable and unacceptable items easier to update by referencing a living document rather than listing every item in the ordinance text. The committee also updated fine amounts for prohibited disposals and clarified which materials go into hoppers that do not carry user charges.

Selectman Flynn moved to adopt the fee schedule as presented; the motion carried 5–0. The board subsequently moved to adopt Chapter 101.1 (solid waste policy) as written and the motion carried 5–0. Board members said the transfer-station advisory committee will continue advisory and public-education work related to disposal rules.

The ordinance and the attached fee schedule will be posted on the town website as the official guidance for the transfer station and for municipal solid-waste handling. The board noted future minor adjustments could be made to the referenced fee/acceptance document without revising the ordinance text.

The changes take effect as town procedure and will inform users of the transfer station; no additional town funding was required at the vote.