By Mary Macedo, Neighb News Correspondent
At its meeting on Monday, 8/19 the Fairhaven Board of Public Works discussed the possibility of starting textile recycling, as well as scouted locations for a new recycling center. The board first met with R & R Sons Concrete about approving them as a new driveway contractor.
Board member Keith Silvia said that they do top quality work. Board member Robert Hobson agreed saying that they are highly recommended. BPW Chairperson Brian Wotton explained that after they do their first driveway apron the Highway Superintendent will go and approve of the job.
The board voted unanimously to approve of R & R Concrete.
In another matter the board met with Steve Lisauskas of Waste Zero to discuss the possibility of adopting a textile recycling program in town.
Mr. Lisauskas explained that two years ago they did a study that revealed that 8% of trash was clothes and textiles of some kind. Mr. Lisauskas said that clothes also contaminate everyday recyclables because people try to recycle them with their regular recycling.
Mr. Lisauskas explained that there is a company in Ohio called Simple Recycling that has come up with a system for recycling textiles. He said the company mails residents two big pink bags to be placed out on the residents’ normal recycling day.
The company would come around town on recycling days in a large van collecting curbside textile recyclables that are placed outside in the pink bags. Mr. Lisauskas said that every time a bag is taken the company will leave a new bag in its place.
Mr. Lisauskas explained that recycling program costs nothing for the town to implement. He said that the town will actually be paid $20 for every ton of textiles collected.
Mr. Lisauskas said that a lot of towns in Massachusetts have already implemented the program.
Mr. Hobson asked if they get a lot of people going through and taking clothes out of bags before it gets picked up.
Mr. Lisauskas said that it does happen but it is pretty rare and the company will still pick up a bag even if it looks like it has been gone through.
“Sounds like a pretty good deal,” Mr. Hobson said.
Mr. Wotton agreed saying that the program would definitely benefit the town.
Mr. Wotton noted that the Board of Health wanted to add a textile bin at the Recycling Center. He asked if Simple Recycling could put a bin there and pick that up as well.
Mr. Lisauskas said that a lot of towns opt to have a few bins in town and Simple Recycling will also pick those up as well.
BPW Superintendent Vincent Furtado said they will have to talk to the Board of Health and Town Counsel about the program.
Mr. Lisauskas said the program is a three-year contract and he can send it them to view.
The board agreed that the Simple Recycling would be great for the town and will continue talks to implement the program
In another matter the board discussed the Highway Union Discipline draft. They briefly looked through the draft and discussed the warnings for being late or for cell phone use.
The board also discussed whether or not a foreperson can send an employee home for disciplinary reasons or if a call should be made to the superintendent.
Mr. Furtado said the foreperson should report issues to the Ssuperintendent and then the superintendent can discipline the employee.
The board had some issues with section three of the draft which discussed employees requesting to take old discipline issues off their record after three or more years if there’s no repeat issue.
Mr. Furtado said that the employee would need to request it with the superintendent and then the BPW would have to vote on it.
The board noted that the disciplinary issue not be removed from the record but sealed away, just so that the history is still there in case issues happen again down the road.
The board agreed to that amended draft unanimously.
In another matter the board discussed the new sewer and water rate increases.
Mr. Furtado said tier one residents are the senior citizens and single resident households. He said he estimated the increases for tier one at the highest usage for that tier.
Mr. Furtado said for water and sewer for tier one residents, the most the rates will go up is $5 per six month billing period.
Mr. Furtado said single resident homes and senior citizens should expect their water and sewer bill to increase somewhere between $0-$5 per six months.
Mr. Furtado said tier includes most residents in Fairhaven, which is the average family household.
He estimated the water and sewer increase for tier two with the highest usage for that tier as well. He explained that water and sewer rates for tier two residents will go up a maximum of $20 per six months.
The average family household should expect their water and sewer bill to increase somewhere between $0-$20 per six months.
Mr. Wotton explained that the increase is not too bad and they did everything they could to help out the residents of Fairhaven. He said that the rates had to go up to help pay for the new sewer treatment plant that the town needs.
The board did not vote on the increases, but will probably vote at the next meeting on 9/3.
Mr. Hobson and Mr. Furtado briefly discussed a trip they took to Dennis, Mass. last week to take a tour of their recycling center, Mr. Hobson said he was very impressed with their facility and the people they met.
“It was a lot of fun,” Mr. Hobson said.
Mr. Furtado explained that the BPW has the grants for the equipment to create their new recycling center, but they need to find a site.
Mr. Hobson and Mr. Furtado will be visiting the recycling center in Dartmouth next week to further their research on how they would like to construct the new center in Fairhaven.
In another matter Mr. Furtado said that the Selectboard asked the BPW to change the town auction date due to conflicts. The board made a motion to change the auction date to September 28.
Mr. Furtado also said the selectboard mentioned closing the parks in town at 7:30 p.m. until the threat of EEE from mosquitoes is gone.
The board made a motion to close the parks at 7:30 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
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