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Resident challenges $5 late fee for Transfer Station permit; board to research authority
Summary
A resident objected to a $5 late-fee letter for a Transfer Station permit; the Select Board agreed to research legal authority for administrative fees and consider alternatives to cover processing costs.
A resident raised a complaint about receiving a $5 late-fee letter for an unpaid Transfer Station permit and said the charge felt unfair to users. Board members acknowledged the administrative costs of mailing and processing, and agreed to investigate who has legal authority to impose such fees.
"It costs money to send out these letters because people are not paying on time," said Sue Mills, Select Board secretary, describing staff time and postage as drivers of the fee. Chair Brian Mills said the board will find out which town official or statute authorizes the charge before formalizing it: "I am not sure who has the authority to do the fees but we can find out." The board discussed options such as a small flat fee, a percentage penalty after a set number of days, or changing collection practices to reduce mailing costs. The motion to research authority and report back was accepted as direction rather than a formal policy change.
