BETHEL — Bethel business owner Mike Pelletier, attending his first Bethel Select Board meeting, said he was unaware the Town was covering the tipping fees for his dumpsters.

“I had no idea. We have two [Bethel] dumpsters and I have two in Mexico and I always wondered why the Mexico ones were more expensive. It’s because of this. You guys are paying half my fee … I can understand why people would want to know.”

Select Board member Meryl Kelly agreed that restaurant owners were unaware the Town was paying their tipping fees, too.

Currently, commercial and residential dumpsters, as well as curbside pick-up tipping fees, are all taxpayer-funded – a practice in place for several years.

Michelle Cole suggested that, rather than including the savings as a policy change in the general budget – as previously voted on by the Board – an article should be added to the Town Meeting warrant. This would give residents a direct say on whether to continue funding the fees.

“A warrant offers clarity, transparency,” Cole said. “Do you consent to a policy of the Town to pay to raise money to pay for off-site solid waste fees … Right now they don’t know that they have a policy choice.”

Town Manager Sharon Jackson responded, “Right now the Town is paying for the trash in everybody’s Casella [Waste Systems] dumpsters. The rest of the world does not do that … I personally think it is unfair that the Town is paying for the tipping fees for everything that’s in your dumpster.”

The decision on whether to hold a Town Hall or add a warrant article was tabled until May 7, when more specifics will be available.

If the change is adopted, businesses and other dumpster users would need to start hauling to the transfer station or hire private waste services for both dumping and tipping.