Money first, decision later

SHREWSBURY

Shrewsbury has applied for a $40,000 state grant to be used for a new fee-based trash program, but that doesn’t mean such a program is coming, officials say.

Town Manager Dan Morgado said a pay-as-you-throw program or trash fee will be considered in the next few months as leaders gear up for the FY09 budget, but the town doesn’t have to accept the grant if it decides not to make the change, he said.

If Shrewsbury didn’t apply now, it would miss out on grant funds entirely. Morgado said he has “no idea” if the town will go to a fee-based trash program but there will be internal talks about it in coming months. If town officials decide to recommend it, details would likely come out in January, he said.

-- Lisa Kocian