View Refuse Disposal fees effective July 1, 2003
View Rescue Fees effective July 1, 2003

Cape Elizabeth residents will see an increase in refuse-disposal fees at the transfer station, and a difference in fees if using rescue services, beginning July 1. The Town Council approved the fee changes at its meeting Monday night. In addition to increased fees for disposal of brush, woodwaste, construction debris and other heavy items, the council also voted to accept Public Works Directory Robert Malley's recommendation to discontinue accepting pressure-treated wood at the transfer station.

"The processor of our woodwaste pile is no longer accepting pressure-treated wood, which is treated with arsenic," said Malley in a memo to the Town Council. "The disposal cost for this could be as high as $90 per ton. Since varying load sizes could make assessing a fee difficult, I am recommending that we no longer accept this material," Malley said. Councilors, however, had mixed feelings on whether outright refusal to accept pressure-treated wood was the answer. Some councilors, including Jack Roberts and Michael Mowles, said that refusal might encourage residents to dispose of small pieces of pressure-treated wood in their regular trash. Others, including Anne Swift-Kayatta and Mary Ann Lynch, believed that directing residents to another facility such as Commercial Recycling Systems in Scarborough was a reasonable alternative.

Still others believed the wood should be collected along with other hazardous materials, such as batteries and unused paint, on a designated hazardous materials waste collection day. The Town had eliminated the waste collection day earlier this spring because of budgetary concerns, but re-instituted it because residents had no alternate way of disposing of the materials.

Pressure-treated wood, however, was not included in the budget for collection, said Councilor Anne Swift-Kayatta.

Councilors did agree, however, that alternatives for disposing of pressure-treated wood needs more discussion.

The most obvious change in the newly approved refuse-disposal fee structure is a $5 charge for materials brought in by auto or sport-utility vehicle. Previously there was no materials brought in by these types of vehicles. Malley said increased fees were recommended by the Refuse Materials Planning Committee to cover more of the cost disposal. Fees have not increased in Cape Elizabeth since 1994. The increased fees will not meet 100 percent of the disposal cost to the town, but rather the cost of materials brought in by residents and contractors. The Town itself generates approximately 25 percent of disposable refuse.

The consensus of the council was to address this and the pressure-treated wood issue in the larger context of a report recently submitted by the Refuse Materials Planning Committee.

Rescue fees conform to Medicare coverage

Regarding fees for rescue services, the council approved a new fee structure which decreases fees for supplies such as oxygen, IV drug administration, cardiac monitor, defibrillation and endotracheal tube placement, but at the same time increases base rate fees. The new fee structure is driven by Medicare's plan to replace payments for those supplies with a new "ALS 2" base payment by 2006.

Currently Medicare allows a maximum of $208.13 for a basic life-support call, and $259.04 for a more serious "ALS 1" emergency call. An ALS call might involve a heart attack or other emergency requiring administration of supplies, which Medicare also currently pays for.

Medical Reimbursement Services, which does billing for Cape Elizabeth and other towns, recommends prices for ambulance services at or above the allowed amount set by Medicare. Medicare in turn bases its maximum allowable payment on rates being charged in the region.

The fee schedule approved by the Cape Elizabeth Town Council raises the fee for a basic call from $200 to $275; an ALS 1 call from $250 to $300; and, sets a rate for a new ALS 2 call at $350. Medical Reimbursement Services will determine which charge to apply based on the severity of the emergency call.

Current Refuse Disposal Fee Schedule                 New Schedule

I. Household Rubbish from Residents ... No Charge ....No Charge

II. Brush and Limbs
   A. Autos ........................... No Charge ....$5/load
   B. Pickups, Vans and Single
      Axel Tow Trailers ............... $10/load .....$15/load
   C. Double Axle Tow Trailers ........ $15/load .....$20/load
   D. One Ton Dump Trucks ............. $20/load .....$30/load
   E. Rack Body Trucks ................ $20/load .....$30/load
No larger vehicles are allowed to utilize the site

III. Wood Waste (Lumber, Pallets, etc).
   A. Autos ........................... No Charge ....$5/load
   B. Pickups, Vans and Single
      Axel Tow Trailers ............... $10/load .....$15/load
   C. Double Axle Tow Trailers ........ $15/load .....$20/load
   D. One Ton Dump Trucks ............. $20/load .....$30/load
   E. Rack Body Trucks ................ $20/load .....$30/load
No larger vehicles are allowed to utilize the site

IV. Asphalt Shingles, Sheetrock and Insulation
   A. Autos ........................... No Charge ....$5/load
   B. Pickups, Vans and Single
      Axel Tow Trailers ............... $15/load .....$20/load
   C. Double Axle Tow Trailers ........ $50/load .....$50/load
   D. One Ton Dump Trucks ............. $30/load .....$50/load
   E. Rack Body Trucks ................ $30/load .....$50/load
No larger vehicles are allowed to utilize the site

V. White Goods
   A. Refrigerators, Freezers, Washers,
      Dryers, Stoves, Hot Water Tanks, Furnaces,
      Dish Washers & Air Conditioners ... $10/item .... $10/item
   
VI. Furniture
   A. Large items (sofas, mattresses
      box springs, etc.) .............. $5/item ........$8/item

VII. Tires (passenger car)............. No Charge ..... No Charge
     No Truck or Off-Road Type accepted

VIII. Automobile Batteries ............ No Charge ..... No Charge




Rescue Fees

Procedure       Medicare Maximum    Current Charge    New Charge

ALS 1 Emergency          $259.04           $250.00       $300.00
BLS Base Rate            $208.13           $200.00       $275.00
ALS 2 Emergency (New)    $259.04         No Charge       $350.00
BLS.ALS Mileage            $8.00            $10.00         $8.00
IV Drug Administration    $88.00           $110.00        $88.00
Oxygen                    $40.00            $50.00        $40.00
Cardiac Monitor           $80.00           $100.00        $80.00
Defib                     $60.00            $75.00        $60.00
Endotracheal Tube         $60.00            $75.00        $60.00