Transfer Station Set for Major Changes as Town Adopts New Model

Hanover's transfer station operations are poised for significant changes as the town moves forward with implementing a new enterprise fund model following approval at December's special town meeting.

The transition marks a fundamental shift in how the transfer station will be funded and operated, with Town Manager Joe Colangelo outlining a clear timeline for implementation at the recent Select Board meeting.

"The next steps on transfer station will be that the enterprise fund will be part of the submitted budgets that I have for you on February 3rd, to go along with the water enterprise budget and the general fund operating budget," Colangelo explained during the meeting.

Key dates for residents to watch include:

• February: Transfer station study committee to propose fee structure

• March: Select Board to set official fees

• April: Town to begin collecting fees

• May: Town Meeting to approve budget

• July 1: Enterprise fund goes live

The change has prompted discussions about cost impacts on residents. During the meeting, resident Steve Friedman of 42 Old Cross Street urged officials to consider the cumulative effect on taxpayers.

"The feel to the taxpayers is going to be additionally whatever the transfer station was," Friedman noted, estimating that if people are paying "$300 as an estimate new for that service," this should be considered alongside other tax impacts when comparing to previous years.

The enterprise fund will operate similarly to the town's water enterprise fund, though with some key differences. Advisory Committee Member James Hoye indicated that initial modeling includes provisions for municipal use, with "about 50,000 right now" budgeted for town departments' usage of the facility.

Select Board Clerk Steve Louko emphasized the importance of equitable cost distribution, noting that unlike water service which all residents must use, transfer station usage is optional. This difference requires careful consideration in how costs are allocated.

The Select Board will work with the transfer station study committee to determine the final fee structure, with options including flat sticker fees, hybrid models, or pay-as-you-throw systems still under consideration.

For residents seeking more information about the changes, the town plans to provide updates through its regular communication channels as implementation dates approach.