Public Works warns of rising disposal fees and proposes road condition survey

Gary, who manages the town’s Public Works and Building Maintenance functions, presented the department’s FY27 budget request of $5,312,218 and outlined fiscal pressures local governments face from regional solid-waste markets and growing stormwater permit obligations. He said the regional authority (SCARA) currently has one of the state’s lower tipping fees but projected market forces could push fees toward $125/ton by 2030, up from current member rates around $83/ton.

Gary recommended measures to mitigate costs — including reducing waste generation and increasing recycling, and proposed a one-time professional fee to hire a vendor to perform a townwide pavement condition survey using vehicle-based LAR technology and AI to create a GIS layer planners can use to prioritize resurfacing. He said the survey would allow the town to transition from ad-hoc decisions to data-driven, multi-year capital planning.

Board members asked about a nearly 20% increase on overtime lines (driven by snow and weekend transfer station coverage), which Gary attributed to heavier winters and weekend staffing patterns, and the feasibility of alternative shift schedules subject to union negotiations. Members also discussed streetlight maintenance and coordination with Eversource for repairs, and drainage issues on Douglas Lane that likely need underdrain work. Gary said the pavement survey could be completed within about six months of a July 1 purchase order and would be integrated with the town’s GIS and capital planning cycle.

The Public Works FY27 budget request was approved by voice vote; commissioners asked staff to return with more details on the pavement-survey scope, a plan to track overtime drivers, and options for managing future tipping-fee exposure.