Effective immediately, the Yard Waste Drop-Off Site at the Municipal Garage is closed until further notice due to the Asian Long Horned Beetle.

Asian Longhorned Beetles - FAQs and Information
(Posted 8/19/2008)

• The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has now placed portions of the Town of Shrewsbury within the regulated area to suppress and control the Asian Longhorned Beetle.  The regulated area to suppress and control the beetle has been expanded to include a significant portion of Shrewsbury covering land along the north side  of route  9 from the Quinsigamond Bridge up to the Maple Avenue intersection  extending north along Maple Ave to Route 140 (west side of 140 only north of Main and west of Boylston Street).

• To prevent the spread of further infestation, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has established a “regulated area” in which residents and businesses are prohibited from moving or transferring ALB regulated materials (including firewood (all hardwood species), live beetles, and wood, logs, stumps, roots, branches, leaves, and green lumber from ALB host trees) from the regulated area.

• A public meeting will be held at Quinsigamond Community College at 6:30 P.M. on Wednesday, August 20th.    The session will be in the Hebert Auditorium.  Federal, State, and Municipal officials overseeing this issue will make presentations and address questions.  The Town is considering hosting its own public forum early next week.

• Federal Officials have opened an ALB office on Skyline Drive in Worcester which can be reached at 508-799-8330.   Residents may also call the Massachusetts Pest Alert Hotline at 617-626-1779 if their question can’t be addressed by reviewing the information on this website.   Residents may also contact the City of Worcester Customer Service Center at 508-929-1300.

• Federal Officials are in the process of establishing survey teams that will inspect all trees susceptible to hosting the beetles in the delineated area.  It is expected that this effort will be launched next week.  More information to follow.

• Yard waste drop-off has been cancelled for the weekend of August 22nd.    Alternative plans for drop-off are being coordinated and will be made available to the public ASAP. 

Below is pertinent information being provided related to the threat Asian Longhorned Beetles could have on our trees and forestry. Please review the information below for more information on this threat, along with further reading on the Asian Longhorned Beetle:

• Regulated Area Order 08/18/2008
• Asian Longhorned Beetles: FAQs
• Report a Possible Asian Longhorned Beetle Sighting
• USDA Newsroom - Asian Longhorned Beetle
• Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project
• Rutgers Cooperative Extension - Asian Longhorned Beetle

The Board of Selectmen will receive a report on this threat at their next meeting on August 28th.

Rates for residential electric service will increase by approximately 10% for all bills issued after September 1, 2008.  A residential customer using 500 kWh per month will see an increase in their bill from $56.20 to $61.75, or an additional $5.55 per month.  Customers in other rate classes will see similar increases.

Despite the September 1, 2008 rate increase, our residential electric rates for 500 kWh customers remains about 28% less per month than the
$86.31 charged by the neighboring electric utility.

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Why Are Costs Rising?
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* A large percentage of power purchased by SELCO is generated by burning natural gas and oil.

* The price of natural gas and oil has increased significantly since last year.

* Wholesale power costs in New England have skyrocketed due to rising fuel costs.

* The cost SELCO pays to owners of transmission lines to move the electric energy from the generation source to Shrewsbury increased significantly in June.

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Additional Rate Increases on the Horizon
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* Low-cost power supply contracts signed by SELCO in 2002 will expire in 2009.

* New power supply contracts will be at significantly higher cost.

* The cost for electricity is expected to increase by an additional 20% over the coming year.

* Additional SELCO electric rate increases are expected in 2009.

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Reducing the Impact of Rising Costs
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* SELCO has recently purchased joint ownership interest in a wind turbine project in the Berkshires as a small hedge against future power supply cost increases.

* Residents can conserve energy at home and increase energy efficiency by looking for the Energy Star logo when shopping for lighting, electronics and appliances.

* Call Home Energy Loss Prevention Service (HELPS) at 1-888-333-7525 for a free home energy audit.

VACANCY NOTICE
Board of Assessors

The Town Manager is seeking a qualified individual interested in serving on the Board of Assessors.

The Board of Assessors consist of a full-time principal assessor and two part time assessors appointed for staggered terms and is responsible for overseeing real and personal property valuations, setting of the tax rate and administration of the tax abatement and exemption programs of the Town.  The Board meets throughout the year on an as needed basis with meetings ranging from weekly to bimonthly depending on the workload of the Assessing Department.  Persons appointed to the Board of Assessors must become Department of Revenue certified within two years of appointment.

Interested persons must be registered voters of the Town and are asked to submit a letter of interest and qualifications to Daniel J. Morgado, Town Manager, 100 Maple Avenue no later than September 5, 2008.

• Board of Assessors Vacancy Notice

The Cultural Council is currently accepting grant applications for FY 2009. Applications may be sent to the Cultural Council, 100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 or  dropped off at the Town Manager’s/Selectmen’s Office in the Town Hall.

Applications will be accepted until October 15, 2008.

PAY AS YOU THROW
Week #2 Update

The PAY AS YOU THROW (PAYT) Program that went into effect on August 4th continues to produce excellent results.  Residents of Shrewsbury are to be commended for their excellent cooperation and assistance.

Additional stores are now selling the bulk waste stickers. These stores are Flynn’s Truck Stop,  Maple Avenue Shell, White Hen Pantry, Rock’s Ace Hardware in Northborough, Walgreen’s and CVS.  All stores are carrying a full inventory of bags.

Residents are reminded that they may place the PAYT bag in a trash barrel and do not have the leave the bag on the ground at curbside.  This is very important for those residents that put out their trash the night before.  They have been instances were bags have been torn by animals so placing the PAYT bags in a trash barrel keeps everything nice and neat.

Residents are also advised that with a smaller amount of trash now being generated, routes are being completed faster so trash should be at the curb by 7:00 AM.  Last week only 118 tons of trash was collected which is about 50% of what is normally collected weekly in the month of August.  In addition, the amount of recyclable material increased about 12% from 56 tons to 63 tons.  It will not be until the end of September until we will have an idea of the impact of the PAYT Program on trash generation and recycling rates.

Small trash bags (15 gallons) cost $.75each and large trash bags (33 gallon) cost $1.50 each. They are sold in packages of 5 bags. Items that weigh 20 lbs or less but are too big to fit in a bag will be picked up if there is a PAYT trash bag attached to the item. Bulky items such as gas grills, a mattress, box spring, a couch or chair will be picked up if they have a bulky waste sticker attached. The stickers will cost $10 each. The stickers and trash bags will be available in local stores. Click here for the list of stores.

Items that are not in a bag and do not have a bag or sticker attached to them will be left at the curb.

REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE to limit the number of bags you need to buy. There will be no fee for recycling or yard waste collections. Click here for information on recycling.

Town residents interested in serving on the Scholarship Committee (three year appointment) are encouraged to send a cover letter and resume to the Board of Selectmen, 100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury, MA 01545. Applications may also be dropped off at the Town Manager’s/Selectmen’s Office in the Town Hall.

Applications will be accepted until Friday, August 29, 2008 at 4:00pm.

• Scholarship Committee Ad

STATE PRIMARY – SEPTEMBER 16, 2008

Polls open from 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Last day to register to vote or to change party affiliation is Wednesday, August 27, 2008, until 8:00 p.m. at the Town Clerk’s Office., 100 Maple Ave.  Registration is conducted from 8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday. Mail-in registration forms must be postmarked by August 27.

Absentee ballots are available to voters who will be unable to vote in person on election day due to

• Absence from the town during polling hours
• Physical disability preventing voter from going to polling place
• Religious beliefs

Application for absentee ballot must be submitted by noon the day before election.

• State Primary Notice

NOTICE TO RESIDENTS

Resurfacing and Miscellaneous Roadway Work will begin on the following list of streets within the next several weeks possibly August 4th and continue into the month of September. Schedule subject to weather and contractor availability:

Storm drainage work at Spring Street and Holman Streets will begin the week beginning July 28th and continue into next month.

The Retirement Board has made available the most recent valuation study of the retirement system as of January 1, 2008.  The funding ratio for the system has improved since January of 2006 where the most recent valuation was done.  The funding ratio has increased from 71.3% to 77.0%.

• Retirement Valuation Study

In order to fund ongoing operation, maintenance and capital improvements of the water and sewer systems, new water and sewer rates have gone into effect.  These new rates will be reflected in bills issued in September of 2008, that will cover water and sewer service provided after April 30, 2008.

• New Water Rates

Pedestrian Safety

During the construction on Route 9, pedestrians are asked to please use the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street during the reconstruction hours of the sidewalk and street for their own safety.

Thank you.

Shrewsbury residents have shown they want to recycle more. Using larger recycling containers is now acceptable.

In addition to 14 gallon recycling bins residents may use plastic trash barrels up to 32 gallons in size or other plastic containers for recycling cans, bottles and jars. Residents are asked to affix a recycling decal to the barrels.  The decals are available free of charge in the Health Department. The recycling containers brought to the curb must weigh no more than 30 lbs each.

In May, the Health Department will have 18 and 22 gallon recycling bins for sale in addition to the 14 gallon bins. Residents may also use clear plastic bags for their cans, bottles and jars. 

Paper and cardboard should be set out in paper bags or lightly tied with string. Shredded paper should be in paper bags. Use a staple at the top if the bag is very full. Be sure to ask for a paper bag or two when you shop. Cans, bottles and jars must be separated from the papers.

As part of a trial project resident who want to recycle light weight plastic bags may put all their plastic bags inside one bag and place that bag in the recycling bin.  Unwanted paper bags should be recycled with the papers.
   
Please recycle. A little effort can make a big difference.

The Fiscal Year 2007 audit report has been received by the Board of Selectmen. This report includes the financial detail of all Town transactions, comments of grant funds and awards and make certain management recommendations.

• View the FY 2007 Audit Report