I write to you this evening in reference to the subject HB707 and humbly ask you to support the bill.
I have lived in Bethlehem for 26 years. I was serving on the Planning board during the time the current host community agreement was negotiated with Casella, and it was later approved by a town vote in 2012, I believe. What the bill does is vitally important for the State and keeps the services that Casella provides to the town as well as more in tipping fees, $2.50/ton compared to the current $0.75/ton. But more importantly, it takes the town out of it and makes the State take over what the State should be doing anyway. For example, the settlement between NCES & NHDES, this proves that the DES is the regulator/enforcer, not the town. The town would not have these resources.
From what I have read about the whole misnomer of local control, which is just something both sides of any issue likes to throw around, local control was given to municipalities by you, the Legislature and can surely be reigned in when it is in the best interests of the State as well as the affected communities when it seems that it is not working any longer
A note of interest, I believe the Bethlehem BOS has voted to write another opinion letter, I call it that because they surely don’t represent my interests, to DES and the AG, asking that the settlement ought to go to the town of Bethlehem. I find that absolutely ludicrous. I’m quite certain the town did not share in the cost of negotiations, the cost of enforcement, or regulation. But alas, expect a letter.
Thank you for reading my letter, and please support HB707, establishing a solid waste site evaluation committee.
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