It was Town Meeting week in Swampscott, and it – surprisingly to some – only lasted one night. The town voted on 14 articles, approving all but one when Swampscott rejected an article to restrict open wood fires. 

“Town Meeting has a very long history,” Hale said. “It’s our duty to uphold that tradition.”

Recycling was a big topic at Town Meeting on Monday, with Swampscott residents learning more about the upcoming contracts and ensuring the town has the resources it needs to strike a deal.

Swampscott’s contract with Republic Services expires July 1. Under the current contract, Swampscott pays $1.1 million for Republic Services’ work, along with tipping fees of $108 per ton for trash disposal and $85 per ton for recycling, according to Department of Public Works Director Gino Cresta.

Rather than using a variety of recycling bins, the town would move to a standardized bin compatible with automated collection trucks. Trash will be automated at the beginning of the new contract, Connors said. 

Town Meeting Members voted to pay for the recycling bins outright through free cash. Town Administrator Nick Connors said officials are deciding between 65- and 96-gallon recycling bins, though he suggested the larger option would better prevent overflow issues.

On the money-side, Swampscott also approved an $87 million budget, but Finance Committee Chair Eric Hartmann warned about future long-term fiscal strain.

The cost to operate the town is growing at a rate that exceeds our revenue growth, and while we have several projects…that promise the opportunity for future revenue increases, they’re not online today, so we need to find a way to balance our budget using whatever means we have available to us until we can get some of those projects underway, producing additional revenues for the town.” Hartmann said.

The town’s finance staff conducted a five-year forecast, suggesting that the town will need additional levy capacity in both the 2028 and 2029 fiscal years. 

“It’s not a rosy forecast but it’s also not an immediate fiscal cliff,” Hartmann said. 

In other news, baseball had a big week in Swampscott. The team won its game on Monday with a thrilling comeback after Isaiah Baires delivered a walk-off RBI single, clinching the conference title.

Bob Montgomery, who played nearly 400 games as catcher for the Boston Red Sox between 1970 and 1979 told his stories at the Senior Center.

And a bunch of high school seniors signed to continue playing sports in college.

Looking to the weekend, Memorial Day plans will take place through Monday. From May 22 through May 27, American flags will be placed along Monument Avenue to honor those who have sacrificed for our freedoms. Volunteers are welcome for set-up at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 22 at the Swampscott Town Hall Lawn.

On Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, Swampscott will hold a 10 a.m. ceremony in the veterans section of Swampscott Cemetery to honor the fallen.

Travel throughout the weekend, though, is looking a bit hectic.