Select Board approves full automation trash contract with 35-gallon totes, relocates spring town meeting to gym.

Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen) · Meeting of March 16, 2026

IPSWICH — Select Board approves trash automation contract and moves spring town meeting to gymnasium. The five-member Board unanimously voted to proceed with full automation for weekly trash and recycling pickup using 35-gallon trash totes and 95/96-gallon recycling totes, following Public Works Director Rick Clarke's recommendation. In a separate unanimous vote, the Board accepted Town Moderator Jim Engel's recommendation to hold the 2026 Annual Town Meeting in the lower gymnasium at Ipswich Middle High School rather than the Performing Arts Center, citing Massachusetts General Law prohibitions on overflow rooms where participants cannot speak.

The Board also voted 4-1 to remove Articles 15 and 16 from the Spring warrant, deferring a real estate transfer fee and departmental hiring age restriction to later consideration. Interim Town Manager Thomas Younger reported $170,000 in excess budget capacity and recommended reviewing liquor license fees for approximately $20,000 in additional revenue.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 605 words

Source: the Select Board (Formerly Board of Selectmen) meeting of March 16, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.