In an effort to update the user fees at the Skaneateles Transfer Station, the Skaneateles Town Board agreed at its Dec. 1 meeting to leave residential fees the same, increase fees on businesses and reduce brush and wood scrap fees. The issue of fees for commercial trash haulers was tabled by the board for further discussion.

“The town board, as part of the budget process, looked at the transfer station operations — both revenue and expenses. We continue to try to improve what we have there,” said Town Supervisor Terri Roney. “We felt a fee adjustment based upon the characterization of the user was needed to start moving us in the direction of more equitably reflecting the true cost of solid waste disposal.”

While residential user fees will remain at $20 per year, the board did have a long discussion on whether to keep use permits as stickers or change them to rearview mirror hangtags. There have been problems with stickers recently because the tinted windows on SUVs make the sticker expiration dates difficult, if not impossible, to see. Hangtags are problematic, however, because when not actually at the transfer station, drivers can be ticketed for having their view obstructed by the tags while driving.

The board decided to change to hangtags for residential permits, and to make sure tagholders are educated on the need to hang them only when inside the transfer station.

For business customers, the board unanimously agreed to increase the yearly fee from the current $20 to $100. The permit will come in the form of a bumper sticker.

The user fee for brush and wood scraps brought to the transfer station was reduced from the current $750 to $300.

The board members all agreed that there will be no exceptions to any of the fee changes.

For the issue of fees to commercial trash haulers, the town board decided they needed more time to discuss the issue. Commercial haulers currently pay $425 per year to dump trash at the transfer station, but the proposal being considered by the board would change that to $20 for each residential customer and $100 for each business customer. For example, a commercial hauler with 200 residential customers would have to pay $4,000 per year in user fees.

Councilor Rick Keyes suggested this decision be tabled for more discussion to avoid any possible “undue hardship on the haulers and big impact on the customers.”

Councilor Nancy Murray agreed. “There’s no doubt something needs to be done here, but let’s discuss it more,” she said.

The board decided to request customer lists from all affected commercial haulers to better assess the impact of any fee changes on a company.

Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].