Good afternoon everyone. Welcome to the rate review committee meeting. Today is Tuesday, October 14th, 2025. This meeting of the air rate review committee will be held in person at the location provided on this notice. Members of the public are welcome to attend this inerson meeting. Please note that while
an option for remote attendance and our participation via Zoom is being provided as a courtesy to the public, the meeting hearing will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the virtual broadcast unless otherwise required by law. Members of the public with particular interest in a
specific item on this agenda should make plans for inerson versus virtual attendance accordingly. This meeting will be live on Zoom. Public may access the proceedings by joining Zoom meeting ID number 978-772-8220 or by calling 9292056099. For additional information about remote
participation, please contact Carly Anteneellis, assistant town manager at atmir.mma. us or 978-7728220 extension 100 prior to the meeting. All right. And with that, um, did we get the
meeting minutes? >> Yes, I sent them out. >> Don't honestly don't remember looking at >> Dan. Dan took them. >> Well, thank you. >> I gota really look at the fine tooth comb. Wait a minute. Anybody
have any issues with >> or uh >> No, I I did it. >> Yeah, I didn't see any issues. >> Yeah. Yeah. Nice formatting. All right. I didn't see anything.
>> I'll make a motion to approve the minutes. >> Second that motion. >> All right. All those in favor? Hi. >> Meeting >> minutes from September 23rd are approved. >> Oh, you did all I didn't skip a step, did I?
>> Oops. Good. >> Something flew through my head and I'm like, wait a minute. I think I did something wrong. All right. Going to be one of those days. All right. Next up, we're going to review, discuss, and recommend, and vote for the 2025 calendar year transfer station rate
recommendations. All right. The last up we had decided to look at add-on scenarios of even like a 50 cent and everything. So >> can you zoom thank you
>> all right? Yeah, Madam Chair, through you. So, um I put together another memo subsequent um to the the one from last meeting, excuse me. And in the yellow highlight here, you can see the addition those are the
additional scenarios that I ran. Um and some of them we had discussed and requested here and I think I added a couple more in there um myself. And so if we want to go through and discuss those, we can. Also, in the memo,
excuse me, Kurt had pointed out um a mistake I had on the the chart for the recent rate increases uh for bags. So I I fixed that. So there's just a revised chart in here. >> Okay. >> Um as well as a discussion that I put
together um and my thoughts about the the U rate scenario and what we might want to go with. Um, so I don't know if you want to look at the scenarios first. Do you want me to walk you through my discussion? >> Why don't you go through your discussion and we'll go from there.
>> All right. So, in short, you know, based on my previous memo for the Sep September 23rd meeting, um, I believe there is an increase we need to increase to meet the revenue goals this year. I mean, even we're using all the subsidy and we still see that the it's a small
shortfall, a few thousand dollars. Um, the rate scenario that I prefer is is the 505 it's called. We for short, but $5 on the regular permit and increase and $5 on the second permit. So, the
second permit hasn't been increased in um since FY19. So, it's been a long time since that's been increased. Um, and then I just like in general having the even numbers. It's typically how we see it for the for the costs. So, a $5
increment would go from 105 to 110. Um, this results in a revenue of 296,000ish. I think it's about what is it >> on the chart? $1,742 over the uh revenue needed. So, it gives us a little bit of a cushion.
>> It's the 505 you said. >> Yeah, that's the one I prefer. Um, and you know, although we don't re raise a senior permit here and they haven't been raised since FY20, I think it kind of gives us the room to to to potentially raise that in the future. Um, you know,
I think we we could well, but depending on how things are going next year, we may see if we need to raise rates again or or if things are going well, especially with the new Holland contract that'll be up. Um, and then I did put in here, we've looked at this sort of every year, but just a
snippet if the committee was to consider reducing bag prices and putting more of the weight on permit sticker prices. So, raising permit sticker prices. Basically, if you looked at that scenario, you'd have to be doing it at a
minimum of 1555 and you could decrease the bags a dollar by doing that. However, that only accounts for um January 1st through June 30th of bag sales cuz we've already been
selling bags this fiscal year um from July uh July 1st this year essentially through December 31st we'll expect. So we're generating revenue at the 456 bag price currently. So if we reduce it, what that does is in the future you're
at the three, four, five, you're not going to make as much revenue in in a whole year in a whole fiscal year next year. So So you'd have to do another raise next year to make up for it. So it's, you know, it's a decent amount. You'd have to do it on a similar magnitude next year, 1555.
>> But if we do the 505, we don't have to raise bag prices, >> right? We don't have to. So, this is just looking at do we if we want to shift prices from bags to stickers and then I did show a little snippet of of current um prices in surrounding
communities compared to heirs u so you can see see what they're paying there. So, that's in the memo as well. I won't I won't go through the details of it but but Oh, yeah, there it is. Robert. Yep. So,
>> yeah, Littleton was the most expensive out of the um and I, you know, I don't show in here what there is for subsidy. One subsidy. One thing for Grten is they do not have an enterprise fund. It's it's straight out of the general fund, >> right?
>> So, they don't really track the costs act, you know, I wouldn't say accurately, but as fine-tuned as we do. Solid waste costs are all tracked in the Sway Enterprise Fund. So in here they I think they've had a permit sticker fee of $80 for several years and their bag
prices have not changed. It just gets washed in the general fund. >> So Harvard and Littleton don't do a 55gallon. Is the 55gallon popular? >> Um I I you know the 33 gallon is the most popular but I think 55 second most >> I would Yeah. based on the sales and
then then 15 the last. Yeah. >> Yeah. So that those were my that was my thinking there. Um but of course there are other scenarios that do get us to the um the re the revenue needed. You know, one thing I I would caution I
wouldn't I would not like us to do is any bag well, I I didn't want to do a bag increase anyways, but any increase of like a 50 cent increment, it makes it a lot harder to deal with the the banking at um especially at DPW when we're selling things and having the 50
cent increments, but >> yeah, we brought that up last meeting. Yeah. >> Well, I mean, well, I mean, all jokes aside, I think it is I think we are going to have to come to that. um because so many businesses are starting to use it and and it's you know
and it's instantly you know kind of deposited so there is a benefit to it so >> yes >> may may I if it's not out of order I did check into that so when you're ready to talk >> or do we just say it now so yeah so our our online provider UNIP does accept
Venmo and PayPal >> okay >> so the issue is is that you have to and I could create a QR code that somebody could you could have at the transfer station and somebody could then bring it up on their phone and pay however. Um the issue is it's it's it's a retail
situation versus paying a bill. So having a receipt issued or some sort of tracking mechanism um is the only thing I'm not sure how we would >> well the user would have it. >> The user would do it. Um I guess they'd have to show the phone showing that the transaction was complete.
um you know to the person handing them the bag. >> Oh, I see what you're saying. Oh, yeah. >> No recourse. It's >> If we were gonna if we were going to sell up at the transfer station, >> having Venmo would would make sense to have the QR code at the DPW,
>> you know, and say the the the paper with the pink border, you know, is for um transfer station, that type of thing. Yeah, the only the only issue I caution is there's no report on like a bill
where then you can just reverse the payment and have it still do. The person at that point already has the bag for that method. But I'm not saying that's an issue. I just want to point it out. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Because I think I I don't think we're ready to sell anything at the transfer station, but I think it is
something to think about going forward for like at the DPW. Um because then we could do these incremental increases. >> We just need to make a menu item as an online option >> and I could get a I create the QR code for you and I just
>> Yeah, let me talk to you offline. >> Yeah. >> Um Laura and we can talk about >> more details specifics. There is some options. >> Yeah. So, you know, I mean, not saying we'll, you know, do the 50 cent type of
change now, but like next year if we're able to get something like that set up, um, you know, next year as we're doing this, you know, maybe we can if it work if it works out. If it works out. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um,
people can already pay credit card or debit card to pay for bags and things like that. So, that wouldn't get into the issue of making change or it's it's really only when people want to pay in cash. Um, and I actually kind of question how many people are actually using Venmo if they're
>> It is. It's starting to become a little more Yeah, it's starting to become a little more popular. >> We still may run into people who just want to pay in cash and then we can't provide change. Oh, I mean there's still there are still some
quirks to it, >> but you know more and more people are getting into the electronic. And if I understand correctly, somebody using you know a card is a 6%
charge. There is a Venmo is 3%. >> Yeah. the charge that you >> so that could save money for the town if I'm follow if I followed everything I was reading correctly. >> So the town actually um doesn't
unlike a retail store where the price takes into the percentages of credit card charges. The town does not and therefore all those fees are transferred right to the customer. So the town doesn't doesn't take those fees just to make you aware. Yeah. And that's
why some people don't like usual. They get easier for the future. >> But I appreciate that you um did look up these scenarios with these smaller amounts because, you know, I think it's
um especially right now with everything that's going on uh and how it may or may not affect people. We're doing our due diligence by at least looking at smaller amounts to still be able to achieve our goals.
>> Anybody have any questions? Okay, Robert. Madam Chair, uh so Dan, thank you for running all of the scenarios and putting this memo together and and I had reviewed it and of course nobody likes an increase and we were
able to not do one last year. However, I do agree with you that uh in order to keep the the service and and keep things going that there needs to be an increase. I think your recommendation of a $5 increase on the regular permit and
a $5 increase on the second permit uh is fair. it it doesn't hit the senior uh rate as you mentioned and it doesn't touch the bags which I know not at the last meeting but the meeting before I was not at the last meeting you and I
had discussed that this is an opportunity um as a contract with the bags that's expiring on June 30th of 2026 we can uh hopefully do some for lack of a better word competitive you know bidding to see if there's a a a a
cheaper or a lower cost option. And I do like your idea that you brought up a couple meetings ago about seeing with some of these other towns and other transfer stations like a a group purchase. So I I think there is an opportunity hopefully to make some
progress on the next bag contract. But that being said, I I I think that the the $ five dollar increase, as much as nobody likes one, um on the regular permit and on the second permit, would
achieve the goal and and hold the seniors, you know, at the same for another year, which is good. >> The second is $30 >> currently. Yes. >> Bring it to 35. >> Yeah. Um,
did we look at maybe making the second permit a $10 service? >> Uh, no. >> Cuz if you're talking about change, then somebody if they were to come in and pay, you know, then you won't have to
give them the $5. >> Oh, it's not a $5 is not a big deal when you have a coin was really wasted. Um um >> cuz $30 is pretty cheap. >> Yeah. >> So um we at least know it would be more
than the $1,700. >> Yeah. You could probably back into it from here. It's the regular five only, 1100 >> which 17. >> So this would be 510 then
>> it's up for conversation. Yep. >> Yeah. Because one of the scenarios was doing the the first the main permit is a 10 and then the senior a five and then the second no see. So we would just kind of swap it a little bit to swap those
around. Well, I think I think it's still because when was the last time the second permit got raised? >> FY9s. Yeah. >> Really? Oh, well then I think it's reason
>> because we can put on there, you know, >> FY19 was the last time this got changed and we're in >> 26. Thank you. >> Well, we're after we're into the after October 1st. So, the fiscal year makes sense to me now.
You cannot be federal government for so many years and not and have your your fiscal year changed. Yes, >> Pauline has her hand up. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry, Pauline. I couldn't see you. >> No worries. I um I was trying to unmute
um and I only just put it up. I just want to clarify the order. I can't change the screen share because I mean I can't adjust it to make it go to the top of the page that I'm looking at. But the the um
what the the differentiation in order if I was understanding what Dan was saying earlier the um the first digit is the regular permit the second digit is I thought for a moment the second sticker
and then the third number or digit is the senior but it's regular senior second. Is that correct? >> Correct. Correct. >> Yeah. >> All right. That was my confusion at the moment because that brings in roughly $1,750 in additional revenue. Correct.
>> Yes. >> 505. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. That was my question for the moment. I'll get back to you with bag tags in a minute. >> All right. So, how are we feeling about it? Um, I think I think it's reasonable
on the second permit if we especially if we haven't raced it since FY19 that it's reasonable to go $5 for the main and $10 for the second. Kurt's still going to get his wife one. Didn't that get because we discussed
that we all agreed that she needs to get her own permit. >> Yes. >> I just have a quick question. How many um second permits are sold? I think that has the lowest number. >> It does. >> Is it like 200? >> I think it's less than that. I want to
say it's like 120. >> It'll bump us up just a little bit. >> 128. Yeah. >> Yeah. 128. >> Yeah. But it'll give us a small buffer. >> Yeah. It'll give you another looks like $640
on top of that 1742 number. >> Y >> if you went 5010 compared to that number. >> Oh, that's not bad. I mean it gives you a little buffer, you know, but obviously it's not pillaging anyway, you know.
>> 2382 if you did the five >> 2382. >> Yeah. >> All right. So 2382 if we do the 5010, questions, comments. >> Um just just one last comment. I think uh especially the fact that there won't be
any bag increase. I mean this is a very >> small 510 for your whole annual permit. And by the way, we're not raising your bag rates. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. I did I think we discussed it before, but just more backup is the
private hauler. They increased their rates over the past year and looking at those nearby towns, Littleton and Pero both increased their rates as well. And last year we cut it really close. Was it $3,000 in the black? >> So like, you know, I think everything
points to >> supporting um this increase. Yeah, >> I agree. We definitely need to do an increase. >> Yeah. So, are we comfortable with the 5010? >> Yeah, I think it I think it makes sense
and I think it's reasonable, too. I I think it's reasonable. I don't think we're we're doing an unreasonable ask. And when was the last time we changed the regular permit about FY19 >> that's senior permit >> regular one 23. Okay.
>> Yeah. >> All right. So it's been a few years. >> Yeah. This will be 30 years. >> Yeah. Because I think that's important too that people understand that we're not just doing this to do it, you know. >> Right. Um and then I like Dan your comment is commented about with the senior one next year it'll have been
five six years since we have that as as >> a year. Yeah. So well yeah hopefully if we're lucky you know we'll we'll be able to go another year or two without doing an increase again. >> Hopefully. So um
okay. Anybody else have any questions here at the table? All right. Pauline, you said you wanted to talk about stickers. >> Yes, please. Um, I don't see anything in today's memo regarding those and at the last meeting it was said that we're
still looking into it. I appreciate that the bags are contracted through June 30th. Are you planning to give that returning to a sticker concept discussion before it's time to renew
those contracts? because I've been thinking the average cost of a sticker if you take all three and divide by three is $5 a sticker. You can put that on any size bag. It's hard to tear a circle and make it look like a circle um
or a different shape if you will because that was one of the excuses. So my real question is since we're committed to buying bags through June 30th, are you planning to look at the sticker and maybe going back to sticker for next fiscal year?
>> If we went to the sticker, it would have to be big to be >> I'm sorry. >> I'm I'm sorry. I'm kind of talking to Dan for a second, following up on what you said. So, you know, if we were going to It would have to be big. >> The sticker would have to be big. Yeah,
we'd we'd have to try to eliminate all those concerns we had with it, especially with the enforcement and, you know, size of bag usage, etc. So, we'd have to try to alleviate those. And like I said, there's a handful I think there's like two communities that still use them. So, I really want to know what they're doing kind of before I even
speak more on it. >> Okay. >> But yeah, just um >> but we're willing we're willing to look at it. >> Yeah, we could look at it while we're doing the bag. Yeah, it would make sense to >> bid >> bid. Yeah, >> that's all I'm asking. I appreciate
that. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Yes. So, Madam Chair, um on the if everybody's good on the the recommendation, um I would just I would make a motion uh that the rate review
committee recommend uh to the select board the 2025 calendar year rates for the transfer station as follows. $5 increase on the regular permit, zero increase on the
senior permit, $10 increase on the second permit, zero increase on the bags, subject to public hearing with the select board. >> So moved. >> Second.
>> All those in favor? >> I says I Okay. All right. So next up is the discussion of the scheduling of public hearing. So as we know November 4th would be a regularly with my phone regularly
scheduled uh meeting. Um but that is when we are having the town election >> right? Oh no there it is. It's so small I can't find it. So the next regularly scheduled meeting
would be November 18th, which is also it would would appear is the uh tax classification hearing. So it would be a whole night of of public hearings. >> That's what we had last year. >> Yeah, I think so. So >> yeah,
>> that work? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So we'll set the public hearing for Tuesday the 18th. We'll get that advertised. Yeah. >> Yeah. And then as far as the next
meeting, our next meeting will be starting to talk about water. >> So, yay. >> And so, when do we want to Oh, yes. >> And storm. So, when is that going to
start getting built? This month the storm water they the bills that go this month >> wasn't in my bill. >> They we haven't sent out this month's bills last month. >> Got my I just got my >> Yeah, >> I just paid my water and sewer bill.
>> The ones that they haven't gone out yet. They go out is it next week or the week after? I had to look at the date. >> Paid my water sewer bill. >> Yeah. I didn't put it there. Yeah, I just paid it. >> I could look at one year's one.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But we Yeah, we haven't sent out the October >> water sewer payment. >> I paid on October 7th. >> Okay. cuz I was surprised when I got it because there was no note in there or
anything saying when we're going to do sewers >> or storm water. I'm sorry. >> Yeah. I don't know. I know. I know for the October bills they they go out later in the month and Yeah. So I don't know if yours were the September roll out. I'm not sure. Let me look. Chance. Yeah.
>> Early bill. >> Is it your second one this? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. >> Yeah, I got my >> Yeah, it comes in because it comes in October. >> Okay. >> Cuz I even got notified via the town,
hey, your water bill's in. And I thought, well, I'll just wait until I get it physically because I was out of town and I'll just wait till I get physically. >> Yeah. Let >> me look. >> Cuz you remember you even talked about how you were going to have to hurry up and make a decision because they were going to be getting ready to be mailed.
>> Yeah. We send them out monthly and there's six different routes in town. We only send out to two routes per month. So the >> who do we send out monthly? >> The water and sewer bills. They go out monthly, but if you're on route one, you go you go in October, then you go in
January, then you go again in March. If you're on route two, you go in November, then you go in February, then you go in April. >> So if you're >> Oh, so everybody's on a different quarterly schedule. >> Yes. Not everyone's on the same >> Oh, I don't think I ever knew that. I just saw it as quarterly.
>> Like yours. >> My guess is yours was red in September. >> Yeah, it's probably red in September. >> Okay. >> And got to you by early October. >> Okay. Oh. Huh. All right. Never. >> See, I never even occurred to me that
that's the way it went. >> Right. All right. Right. So when do you when you so my January bill I can expect for the storm water to be added? >> Yeah, I think it technically would be your your December bill which you would get in
>> I'm going to say January because that's my next quarter. >> Yeah. So that's that will have it. >> Um okay. So and did you decide if we're going to make up what we missed? >> We're not making up what we missed. We're going straight with the quarterly. >> There we go. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. the um divide by four annual. >> All right. So, nobody's going to be shocked, >> right? It'll be worth. >> Okay. Good. Okay. All right. That was fun. >> We've got calendar, we've got quarterly,
we've got the fiscal. I going >> all over the place. All right. >> Um Okay. So, back to what I was saying, when we meet again, we'll be talking about storm water and
water. So, when did did we want to meet in December? >> I don't think we usually do. I think we try to >> Yeah. So now we know that we ha that um
we have to have whatever it is we're doing the board I mean yeah because the warrant would close on the 3 of April. We'd meet on the 7.
So, we would have to have it we'd have to have it um by the 17th of March, the public hearing, unless we did a standalone >> for some reason. >> Uhhuh. >> Okay. Um >> Yeah. >> Now, I know that sometimes appears on
the draft budget, but I I don't want us working toward a date. I want us working toward a solution. So that's, you know, but that's kind of, >> you know, what it would have to be done. Um, as far as the public hearing unless we did a standalone. I'm not opposed to
doing a standalone public hearing if it is needed. >> And I say if it is needed due to so many other things on the agenda that it's decided, you know, something's got to break loose. So that's why I say that. Okay. Um, so January, when do you want
to meet? I'd say at least the middle because our budgets are due the end of Decemberish typically and then we factor that into the model, right, Barbara and Kimberly? So you'll need to kind of run that in the model and storm water budget now too, right?
>> January. >> How about January 13th? It's a Tuesday at 4. Um >> Oh, I'm in the wrong year. >> What pistol year What road are you on? >> Yeah. What? What? What? Yeah. What's
your quarter? >> Um, >> I just want to know what station I'm in. >> Oh, 13th. >> So, is everybody good with January 13th? >> I think this should be fine. You can get the model sort of all prepped up and then fill it in once we get all the
budgets. Okay. >> Drafted. >> Yeah. I I just did look back. We did meet in December of last year, December 10th, but I'm thinking that was because we were wrestling with the storm water,
>> right? Yeah, that's what I was going to say. >> Yeah, probably. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right, then. Anything else? All right. Well,
agenda. We've got nothing else on the agenda. So make a motion to adjurnn. >> I will second. >> All those in favor? >> I chair says I. We are adjourned.