Wenham Board Approves Casella Trash Talks, Avoids Feared 80 Percent Rate Spike

WENHAM -- December 2, 2025, Wenham Select Board votes unanimously to negotiate new trash contract with Casella, escaping feared 80 percent rate hike. Town Administrator Steve Poulos told the board Tuesday that a trash working group concluded direct negotiation with incumbent vendor Casella Waste Services is the best path forward, projecting a roughly 20 percent increase in year one with 5 percent annual escalators in years two through five, far below the 80 percent spike the town had feared when it formed the working group three years ago. The board also voted 5-0 to authorize the Climate Action and Sustainability Committee to apply for the state's Climate Leader designation, a program that could unlock up to $1 million in state capital grants for electrification projects; Green Communities Division coordinator Dylan Patel presented the five required criteria, including a Town Meeting vote on the specialized stretch energy code. On the annual tax classification, Chief Assessor Terry Fontaine recommended and the board largely accepted a single residential tax rate, passing on open space and residential exemptions unanimously and rejecting a small commercial exemption 4-1, with member Karen Anger casting the lone dissent and calling for more data on Wenham's 15 commercial parcels before any future vote.