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.