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Salisbury approves trial of card payments at Transfer Station
Summary
The Salisbury Board of Selectmen authorized a trial purchase of a $59 card-reader to accept credit/debit payments at the Transfer Station, after discussion of fees, receipts and fallback procedures; the motion passed unanimously.
The Salisbury Board of Selectmen authorized a trial purchase of a $59 card-payment device for the town Transfer Station at its May 6 meeting.
Selectman David Hostetler recommended using Square, noting it has no signup or monthly fee and charges 2.6% plus $0.15 per transaction. Residents attending the meeting asked whether the town bank imposes limits on transaction counts, whether customers will receive receipts and what fallback would exist for incomplete payments. Hostetler said the town would consult the bank and that Square issues receipts and would not charge for failed transactions entered incorrectly.
Chair Jim Hoyt moved to buy the device for a trial period; Selectman David Kelly seconded and the motion passed without opposition. The board discussed keeping a single price for cash and card transactions rather than charging a premium for credit use, with Hostetler expressing a preference to fold transaction fees into the total price.
Why it matters: Accepting cards could increase convenience for residents and reduce cash handling but will introduce per-transaction fees and require the town to confirm bank processing limits and fallback procedures. The board authorized only a limited trial; staff are expected to report back with details of implementation and any bank restrictions.
What’s next: The town will purchase the hardware and test it at the Transfer Station; the Selectmen did not set a date for a follow-up report.
