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Dalton board debates disposal-fee hike after Casella billing discrepancy
Summary
SelectBoard members reviewed higher transfer station expenses, debated disposal-fee estimates (settling on a $75/ton compromise for the budget), and raised concerns about a mismatch between Casella's proposal ($32/ton) and invoiced amounts that appeared much higher.
Tax collector (speaker 2) raised concerns about a discrepancy between Casella’s December proposal (which listed recycling as an ‘acceptable waste’ item at about $32/ton in the proposal) and recent bills or estimates that showed disposal fees many times higher. "How you go from $32 in a proposal to a $170 something doesn't make any sense," the tax collector said, urging the board to wait for invoices before making final decisions.
Board members discussed their incomplete billing history and agreed Casella had billed for container rental and transport at times without immediate disposal charges, which can create apparent spikes when charges are back-billed. The tax collector said the town has not yet received the invoices for January recycling drops but expected them on upcoming bills.
Staff and members also discussed the Dalton Country Store’s pre-purchased bag inventory sitting in the tax-collector office. The tax collector said those bags had been paid for by the store and should be returned to the store for resale or refunded if the store requests.
On transfer-station budgeting, members debated disposal-fee assumptions. Options discussed included $70, $75 (compromise), and $80 per ton to cover increased wages and higher disposal contracts. Several members emphasized conservatism in revenue estimates to avoid shortfalls; the board settled informally on a $75/ton figure for the budget presentation to the public.
The board agreed to seek clarification from Casella and to have Kyle and Adam provide operational tonnage and cost estimates before finalizing the transfer-station line items at the budget hearing.
