Mr. Klimm Opts Not To Increase Fees For Dump

By: Laura M. Reckford
Published: 12/17/10

Barnstable Town Manager John C. Klimm is scheduled to announce today that he has adopted the recommendations of department heads on fee increases for the coming year, except for one.

“I decided against an increase for the solid waste facility,” he said.Department heads had recommended a 10 dollar increase in that fee, but Mr. Klimm decided against it, he said, for several reasons.“I received considerable public input,” he said, noting the dump fee was really the only one he heard from people on.

“Obviously, it’s an important issue to people.”He cited the “general state of the economy” and the “adverse impact on citizens, a lot of whom use the facility as an alternative to home [trash] pick up because it’s cheaper.”

Secondly, Mr. Klimm said, the town is about to make decisions about placing a solar array of photovoltaic panels at the site which will reduce the cost of utilities in running the site.

“I don’t know what impact that will have, so I want to see that before we increase fees,” he said.

The dump sticker fee will remain at $130.

One fee he has not yet made a determination on, he said is the shellfishing license fee. He said he wants to do more research on what other towns charge for the license and will make the decision within a week.

Fees that were increased include non-resident beach parking, which will now cost $20 per day; golfing at the municipal courses, which will now cost $850 for a resident annual pass; and Hyannis water department fees, which will charge heavy users higher fees.

The fee increases go into affect January 1.Department heads cited a need for increased capital spending and rising costs in requesting the fee increases.

Mr. Klimm said he had also approved the changes in the administrative code recommended by the Comprehensive Financial Advisory Committee, including a change that could open the way to the town earning more money on its investments.