BEVERLY — With little discussion, the City Council voted 6-2 last night to keep the annual trash fee at $100.
The trash fee is one of the most controversial issues in the city, but councilors had already debated the topic last week. Last night's discussion centered on procedural matters that had no impact on the final vote.
The council established the trash fee in 2004 and set it at $75 for residents and $250 for businesses. A year later, the council raised the fee to its current level of $100 for residents and $300 for businesses. The fee raised a total of $1.3 million this fiscal year to help offset the city's trash disposal costs.
The law contains a 'sunset clause' that requires councilors to vote every year on whether to keep the trash fee and how much to charge. Last week, Council President Tim Flaherty recommended lowering the fee to $80, saying residents deserved a reward for improving their recycling efforts, which have saved the city money on trash disposal costs.
But other councilors argued the city needs the money at a time when it just closed an elementary school and laid off 30 school employees, and the $80 fee was voted down.
Last night, Councilors Flaherty, Judith Cronin, Pat Grimes, Bill Coughlin, Maureen Troubetaris and Wes Slate voted to keep the fee at $100. Don Martin and John Burke voted against the $100 fee. Ward 4 Councilor Kevin Hobin was absent. Councilors did not mention the $300 fee charged to businesses, but Flaherty said after the meeting that fee will also stay the same.
The trash fee requires a second vote to become official. Flaherty said that will likely happen on July 21.
