1.      President Cloutiér called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.

2.      Pledge of Allegiance

3.      Land Acknowledgement:

Aquene (Peace) We recognize the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. We acknowledge that we are in the ancestral homeland of the Pokanoket Tribe within the original territory of the Pokanoket Nation. We commit to ongoing efforts to recognize, honor, reconcile and partner with the Pokanoket people whose ancestral lands and water we benefit from today. Aquene (Peace)”

5.      Discuss and Act: Refuse and Recycling Contract with MTG Disposal

Town Manager’s discussed the rollout of Mega’s new automated trash and recycling system and that it revealed widespread concerns about the size of the 95‑gallon carts. Despite Mega’s earlier expectation that only about 1% of households would need smaller carts, nearly 600 residents have requested 64‑gallon carts, and many others have asked for additional large carts. Mega has agreed to provide smaller carts at no cost and allow households to obtain extra-large carts, with a $50 fee for additional carts beyond the first 200.

The Town also discovered that the number of households served is roughly 200 higher than the 6,100 listed in the bid due to apartments and ADUs. To cover cart swaps and service for these additional households, Mega will charge the Town an extra $1,900 per month, increasing the annual contract cost by $22,800 while still maintaining approximately $169,000 in yearly savings compared to manual collection.

Town Council approval of the proposed revision in the contract with Mega is required. The proposed changes are as follows:

·         Mega will swap out 64-gallon carts to all households that want them at no charge;

·         Mega will charge households a one-time $50 fee for each additional large cart – up to one extra trash and one extra recycling (residents will need to pay by credit card to get on the schedule for delivery);

·         For the cart swap-outs described above and providing services to the approximately 200 additional households that were not included in the bid specifications, the Town will pay Mega an additional $1,900 per month.

Council Discussion:

·         Councilwoman Jancosek stated she stands by her vote but feels misled.  After rewatching the April meeting, she feels that several promises have not come to fruition.  Jancosek received many emails complaining about Mega’s call center and while pleasant the call center pinned the issue on the town. She questioned the need to charge extra fees to swap out carts for smaller carts especially if Mega gets the larger carts back and she doesn’t feel that residents should be charged. Jancosek inquired about bulky item pickup and if there are any restrictions.   Jancosek suggested that Mega schedule a check-in for the November Town Council Meeting.

·         Councilman O’Neill inquired about the future and what happens when homes change ownership and might need a different size cart, how would this impact them.  Mega explained that they have a database and know what size bin each household has and it would be up to the residents to request the change.  O’Neill inquired about mattress disposal.  Mega replied that they don’t pick up mattresses in Barrington, due to the fact they aren’t accepted at landfill because they cause damage to trucks. 

·      President Cloutiér expressed frustration with service issues following the transition to automated collection receiving complaints about missed pickups, difficulties reaching both Mega and Town for assistance. President Cloutiér stressed the Council’s responsibility to residents who trusted the town’s decision to go with automated collection, especially when it was stated it would save the town money.  He raised concerns about the additional $1900/month for additional households and how they came up with that cost.  Mega explained that it’s based on the ability to finish routes within a day, adding more stops takes more time. Cloutiér also negotiated up to 200 additional carts for households at no charge.  Discussions continued about possible solutions for residents who have difficulty moving the 95‑gallon carts and asked whether Mega could help a limited number of households, proposing a list of about 20 homes for this service.

·      Councilwoman Cassar noted that although communication around the new bins has been challenging.  The town made efforts to inform residents well in advance of the rollout.  Cassar added that information was available both on the carts themselves and online and while communication could still improve, the town did make significant efforts.

President Cloutier opened public comment

·      Deborah Hetrick of 68 Fales Avenue: She thanked the Town Council for adopting the automated collection system but expressed strong concerns about its impact on seniors. She noted that both she and her 86‑year‑old neighbor struggle to move the large carts and have faced inconsistent guidance from Mega’s call center regarding smaller cart exchanges and bulky item pickup. She reported delays, unclear instructions about when to place carts out for exchange, and difficulty obtaining scheduled bulky item service. She urged Mega to improve communication and ensure seniors who requested smaller carts receive clear, direct notification.

·      Shari Stein of 10 Ridgewood Road: She expressed concern that seniors and residents with disabilities are struggling under the new automated collection system. She noted that long‑time homeowners, especially those preparing to sell homes, have disposal needs that exceed the standard cart capacity. She described challenges managing the large carts, difficulty obtaining smaller carts despite early requests, and inconsistent guidance from Mega. She emphasized that communication has been inadequate and that not all residents received handouts on their carts.  Shari stated that residents rely on multiple channels—such as printed materials, direct notification, and online sources—and urged the Town and Mega to improve outreach to ensure all residents, especially vulnerable populations, receive clear and timely information.

President Cloutier closed public comment

The Council members discussed additional matters and agreed on the following follow‑up actions with MTG Disposal (Mega): Mega will provide the Town Manager’s Office with a weekly call‑log report detailing resident addresses, topics, and resolutions, including bulky‑pickup requests, and will attend the November 9th Town Council Meeting to present a follow‑up review of the amended contract.

Ø  Motion: by President Cloutiér to approve the proposed changes to the refuse and recycling contract with MTG Disposal, LLC contract, as outlined in the Town Managers Memo and amended with up to 200 households being able to receive one additional 95-gallon trash cart and one additional 95-gallon recycling cart at no charge.
Second: Councilwoman Cassar
Vote: Motion passed 4-0

6.      Public Comment: (NONE)

7.      Adjourn:

Ø Motion by President Cloutiér to adjourn the meeting at 8:27pm.

                         Vote: Motion passed 4-0

              Stephanie Bernardo Town Clerk