Malden councilors mulling PAYT changes

Ward 6 Councilor Neil Kinnon - who opposed the fee last year - said in an e-mail that Tuesday's vote sends a clear signal to the panel.

"If we do not turn this over it is a pure mockery of the democratic system which we all swear to uphold," he said.

Ward 7 Councilor Neal Anderson - a fee supporter - conceded that he and his colleagues should consider changes. Asked if granting residents one free bag per week - an idea floated at meetings - might be an option, Anderson left the door open a crack.

"I don't rule that out," he said.

The fee, known as pay-as-you-throw, began in October 2008. The goal was to raise $2.5 million and save $600,000 in solid-waste disposal costs, officials said. In order to have their trash picked up, residents are required to purchase City of Malden trash bags, at a cost of $20 or $10 per box. In theory, residents pay only for trash they throw away. Weekly recycling is also mandated, according to a city ordinance.

Mayor Richard Howard said last month that the city has raised about $1.7 million and saved about $800,000 in disposal costs in the last year. There is less trash because people are recycling more.

Nevertheless, a change must come, according to Ward 4 Councilor James Nestor, a trash fee opponent.

"I'm definitely open to any kind of revision to the program," he said, including "an expansion" of the bulk item provision. Under current policy, residents can place just one bulk item beside their bags.

Ward 1 Councilor Gary Christenson - another fee foe - said he'd support changes to the program, adding that a special committee that he chairs is also drafting a policy to make it easier for ballot questions to pass.

Before the final tally was made, some Malden residents did some premature celebrating.

"I can't tell you how many people came up to me [on Tuesday] and said, 'Have you heard the wonderful news? We're not going to have to pay anymore," Christenson said. "One guy was doing a trash bag dance."