JAY — A new two-year curbside collection contract with Somerset Disposal Service will begin July 1, keeping weekly trash pickup in place while changing recycling collection to every other week.

The contract, approved unanimously by selectpersons May 26, will cost $226,500 in the first year and $231,030 in the second year, Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said. It will cover weekly trash collection and biweekly recycling pickup for eligible curbside residents.

The biggest change for residents will be recycling collection shifting from weekly to biweekly, LaFreniere said.

LaFreniere said the town would send the contract to Chris Roy at Somerset Disposal Service the next day. Once Roy signs it, she said, Somerset will have seven days to determine routes and schedules “so then we can start getting that information out to our residents.”

LaFreniere said the town will notify residents through its regular channels, including email, Facebook, the town website, the electronic sign and the office bulletin board.

Before approving the contract, board members discussed changes to the draft agreement, including allowing collection to continue until 6 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.

“Especially at the beginning, that he’ll have that extra hour just in case,” LaFreniere said, noting that the contractor told the town crews do not operate after dark during the winter.

The board also discussed adding language allowing the town manager or a designee to approve smaller vehicles in some areas.

LaFreniere said Somerset Disposal Service had discussed using “a smaller box truck or something” in certain outlying areas, including “the other side of Walker Hill,” to save time on routes.

Also at the May 26 meeting, selectpersons tabled a proposed police department Taser upgrade after reviewing a package that could cost up to $71,398 over five years. Further discussion is expected June 8 on how many Tasers are needed and how the costs would be funded.

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