Saugus selectmen seeking oversight of trash policy

SAUGUS – The Saugus Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing tonight at 7 p.m. at Town Hall on a proposed article that would give Town Meeting the authority to approve any changes to the town’s trash and recycling policies.The hearing comes one month after the Board of Health implemented its new trash and recycling program, which limits weekly curbside trash for single-family homes to three 45-gallon barrels.”The residents have asked questions, expressed anxiety and concern with what the town’s ultimate goal is regarding increasing recycling and lowering trash tonnage,” said Selectman Scott Crabtree. “The residents are concerned about having to purchase new barrels and not being able to use the barrels that are larger and more secure that they have already paid for.”In June, Town Meeting voted to send a proposed $2 trash overflow fee back to the selectmen, stating that any trash fees are to be established through a bylaw proposed by the Board of Selectmen and adopted by Town Meeting.The Board of Health, however, still went ahead with the three-barrel limit starting Aug. 1 without the fee. Now anything more than three barrels of trash will not be collected.According to the article, “Any establishment, change, or implementation of rules and regulations ? relative to the collection of solid waste, trash, recycling ? shall occur after being approved by a majority vote of an Annual or Special Town Meeting.”The article also requires that any proposals by the Board of Health must first be approved by a three vote majority by the Board before going to Town Meeting for approval.Town Meeting member Robert Cox said he would vote in favor of the article because any changes in town policies should be approved by Town Meeting.”In reality I look at that as being a law, a regulation or fee,” said Cox. “That solely falls under the purview of the Town Meeting. We’re the elected voice of the town and it definitely should come from us.”Selectmen Chair Donald Wong declined to say whether or not he supports the article, saying he wants to hear all sides of the argument before making a decision.”I’m reading more on it and I’m talking to a lot of different people to get a better flavor on it,” said Wong. “I’m taking input from both sides. I never make a commitment before because you might hear something in the meeting that makes sense.”Despite this, Wong said he thinks it would be best to leave trash policy in the hands of professionals.”I don’t want to micromanage,” said Wong. “The people on the Board of Health are educated. I wouldn’t go to the fire chief and tell him how to put out a fire. I’m not educated on how to put out a fire. We’re not experts on every single department.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter at @MattTempesta.