Woolwich selectmen began the process of ending the town’s contract with WasteZero and Pay As You Throw (PAYT) Monday night, Nov. 16. PAYT, however, will continue until Jan. 27, 2016.

After the program ends residents will have until Feb. 12 to return any unused WasteZero bags to the town office for a full refund. The town will also have to reimburse WasteZero for any of the orange plastic trash bags that weren’t sold.

The terms of the contract require Woolwich to give WasteZero based in North Andover, Mass. 60 days’ notice for opting out of the program. Voters overwhelmingly approved the petitioned referendum to sever the town’s PAYT contract on Nov. 3. Monday night was the first time the board of selectmen convened since the election, which is why the program will continue into the first month of the new year.

As the program winds down, David King Sr., select board chairman, said the town would have a better idea what the costs of leaving PAYT will be. Selectmen reduced this year’s solid waste budget $36,000 – the anticipated saving from initiating PAYT. King said if monies were needed for solid waste disposal, they could be taken from the undesignated fund balance at a special town meeting in March.

WasteZero told town officials they maintain a two-month supply of bags. According to selectmen there are 134 cases of large bags (100 bags to a case) and 68 cases of small bags (400 bags to a case). After Jan 27, the town would buy back any of the unused WasteZero bags for approximately 28 cents per bag but pay residents the full price, added King.

Several residents thought PAYT would end sooner and pressed selectmen for more facts on the costs of ending WasteZero’s contract and continuing curbside trash pickup.

“It might be that we can take what (monies) are needed out of contingency,” Selectman Jason Shaw said. The board has $25,000 set aside in its contingency account.

During the discussion Don Adams asked if the town was finally done with pay-per-bag. King responded there was nothing to stop someone from starting a petition to reinstate the program.

Afterwards Selectman Dale Chadbourne told the newspaper, “It’s presumptuous to think we need a special town meeting until we know how much money we’ll need. It might be that we can take it out of contingency,” he said.

According to Joshua Kolling-Perin, WasteZero director of public engagement, in September $10,800 worth of bags were shipped to Woolwich-area retailers. In an email to the newspaper, Kolling-Perin stated subtracting out WasteZero’s fee of $2,344 for the bags and other costs for shipping, distribution, logistics and accounting, the town netted $8,456 from the sale of the bags. “In October, the town shipped $3,200 worth of bags to retailers, paid WasteZero $608 and netted $2,592,” he added.

Selectmen agreed to hold next year’s annual town meeting on a Saturday rather than on a weeknight. The board based its decision on the results of a straw vote taken at the general election. Selectman Allison Helper said results of the tally were 185 residents in favor of Saturday, 101 for holding the town meeting on a weeknight, and 51 who had no preference.

The tentative date for the annual town meeting will be 9 a.m., Saturday, May 7. The date is subject to the availability of the Woolwich Central School gym and also availability of a moderator for that day. The motion passed 4-0-1, King abstaining.

In response to an opinion from Maine Municipal Association, selectmen won’t pursue a policy that would have prohibited concealed weapons from the municipal building.

Selectman Lloyd Coombs said the 24thannual tree lighting and Yule sing organized by the recreation committee will be held on Dec. 6 at 5 p.m.

The town will soon be accepting bids on its former ambulance, a 2003 Ford E-450.

On Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. selectmen plan to meet with the acting fire chief, officers of the fire department and EMS director. The next regular meeting of the board is also Dec. 7 beginning at 6 p.m.