Residents will get a break on their trash fees, but it won’t go far because sewer and water rates are going up. Selectmen voted unanimously Monday to drop the trash pickup fee from $208 a year to $204. But the board voted to increase water and sewer rates by 5 percent on the recommendation of Town Manager Charles J. Cristello.

According to Water Superintendent Joseph Silva the average bill for a family will increase by $25 a year. Selectmen approved the increase to avoid cutting the budget as they did in May when spending threatened to exceed revenue. Wastewater Superintendent Todd Goldman said the average sewer bill is $287 a year. With the increase, the average bill will be $301 a year, which Goldman said is still one of the lowest in the state.

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