Panel Elects Westhoven Chair, Smullin Vice Chair

Solid Waste Advisory Committee · Meeting of May 4, 2026

Swampscott's Solid Waste Advisory Committee elected new leadership after its chair joined the Select Board. Members unanimously chose Emily Westhoven as chair and Alix Smullin as vice chair, with outgoing chair Wayne Spritz abstaining because his new Select Board seat barred him from voting. The panel also agreed to hold its first-ever executive session, tentatively set for May 11, to review competing bids on the town's next waste-hauling contract, which could bring automated carts and new contamination penalties.

Member Gino Cresta flagged that Swampscott still charges just $30 to haul away a mattress, far under the $85 one private hauler was advertising, calling the gap "way out of whack." Resident Reagan Walker, during public comment, said his household fills "five blue bags a week," the town's heaviest reported usage.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Swampscott's community access TV: Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting, May 4, 2026
• The complete report: 776 words

Source: the Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting of May 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.