The Board of Health held a last-minute meeting on Friday, during which the members voted unanimously to lower the sticker prices they had previously approved on Tuesday evening.
These stickers allow Marblehead residents to attend the beach and access the transfer station. On Tuesday, the board voted to set the primary sticker price at $125, but after community discussions, the board decided to reconsider the price.
Board of Health Chair Helaine Hazlett opened the conversation by explaining that the $125 price point would help the board cover costs and address budgetary needs. Hazlett also noted that, compared to neighboring communities where sticker prices hover around $180, the proposed increase was still modest.
Board member Tom McMahon opposed the $125 price, arguing that the board should focus on cost-covering, not generating extra revenue. He pointed out that raising the price from $80 to $125 would be a 28% increase, which he deemed excessive.
McMahon expressed concern about community backlash, noting that he had already received inquiries about the sticker price and how the final amount was determined.
As the discussion continued, various pricing options were considered. Hazlett suggested raising the secondary sticker price to $50, but McMahon cautioned against relying on secondary sticker sales for revenue.
McMahon proposed a long-term goal of separating the beach and transfer station stickers. Currently, one sticker grants access to both services, but many residents use only one service and still pay for both. This change would allow the board to better track sticker purchases for each service.
Another proposal was to eventually eliminate fees for Marblehead residents using the transfer station, charging only out-of-town users for the service.
The board discussed plans to install a license plate reader at the transfer station in the spring. The device would help monitor usage and distinguish between residents and out-of-town users, providing more accurate data on sticker purchases.
As the meeting concluded, Hazlett stood firm on a price of at least $105 for the primary sticker and a $50 secondary sticker. McMahon, however, argued that the primary sticker should not exceed $100 and that the secondary sticker price should be $40, to keep costs affordable for residents.
The board’s third member, Thomas Massaro, advocated for keeping the price at $80, noting that revenue generation should not be the goal. Massaro expressed that the primary car sticker is essential for residents, while the secondary car sticker is a luxury. He supported a lower price, acknowledging that some residents pay out-of-pocket for stickers.
After about an hour of debate, McMahon proposed a primary sticker price of $100 and a secondary sticker price of $40. The board voted unanimously to approve this new pricing structure, reversing their previous decision from Tuesday.
Hazlett expressed that although she was not entirely satisfied with the final agreement, she was willing to accept it, as it would still help cover the costs associated with maintaining the beach and transfer station.
McMahon also noted that the new prices should address the concerns raised by residents, while also ensuring that the costs of operating both the beach and transfer station are met.
In the coming weeks, the Board of Health plans to continue working on ways to improve the sticker system and better track usage to make the process more transparent for residents.
The board will also continue to monitor community feedback to ensure that future price increases are reasonable and aligned with the needs of the community.