Director of the DPW, Joe Lynch, and Engineer John Thompson along with a representative from Waste Management, Milton’s trash hauler met with the selectmen to review a move toward single stream recycling which will start next week (1/24). Waste Management together with the DPW will be mailing out information but in short here are the benefits.

Residents will no longer need to segregate paper (newspapers, magazines, cardboard) from containers (plastic, aluminum, bottles). In addition, the restriction of 3’x3′ cardboard is lifted.As of next week you will be able to co-mingle all recyclable products in a single barrel if that is convenient to you. You no longer need to use the recycle bins which for many families required multiple bins.  Stickers identifying barrels as containing recyclables will be available at town hall and the DPW; but are not mandatory for residents to begin taking advantage of the new process.

You can also dump all recyclables into a cardboard box and WM will take that.

Milton is in the fourth year of a five year contract. This will enable Milton to assess the program in advance of a new contract. The existing contract will not change in any way and the town will continue to receive a stipend for paper recycling. The representative will be walking DPW officials and Selectmen if they wish through their Avon facility which processes the recycling. It is done largely by maintenance technology.

Mr. Lynch also gave an update on snow and ice removal costs. Not surprisingly, the DPW plowed by the budget of $150 a while ago. The current spend for all costs associated with snow and ice removal (labor, repairs, salt) are at $324K. Mr. Lynch estimates if the season continues the town may need to spend $625K. Certain costs have increased (e.g. cost of salt is up 12%) and the timing of storms has been a nuisance from a salary perspective. Labor costs are slightly higher due to overnight plowing versus during the day.

Rich Klieman, chairman of the Wind Energy Committee, also gave an update. The key point was resolution with Nstar on the connectivity cost to hook up the turbine to the grid. The cost which the town initially feared might be $1million or more is going to be ~$300,000. Klieman credited Nstar for working hard to help the town find a way to do this as cost effectively as possible. Mr. Mearn, Town Administrator, in turn made a point of crediting Mr. Klieman and his committee for tireless work in keeping this project moving forward. Kleiman also referred to the law suit being brought against the town by Quarry Hills. He voiced his severe disappointment in their action and cited an editorial which appeared in the Boston Globe that took Quarry Hills to task.

The selectmen also did another review of the RFP for the Stoughton land. They went over comments that had been emailed in. Suggestions included extending the time allowed for a response to the RFP (from 30 days to 60 +) and modifying the lease terms. The previous draft allowed for a 10 year lease with two 10 year renewals (the selectmen cannot legally grant a lease longer than 30 years). The issue is that any developer will have a difficult time with financing if they only have a 10 year window. The selectmen agreed and will likely offer a 20 year lease with a 10 year renewal. Selectman Shields recounted a conversation he had with a local banker that confirmed that and it is Mr. Shields opinion that the most likely scenario is that the land will be sold not leased.