At the July 24 Windham town council meeting, councilor Kaile Warren drew attention to a small detail in one of the town’s annual services that may save the town several thousand dollars in costs.

Each year the town hires a cleaning service to vacuum the debris collected in the town’s 635 catch basins connected to the storm drains in the road. This year the contract went to Wilson’s Commercial Sweeping & Catch Basin Cleaning Company at a sum of $29 for each basin.

Warren said he talked to the owner and found out that one out of every five basins doesn’t collect enough debris to warrant a cleaning, but the town is still charged because of the work and fuel used to examine the empty catch basins.

On average, that would mean the town pays $3,683 for catch basins that are not cleaned.

Because a public works employee is required to go to the catch basins as well, Warren suggested that they check all the catch basins ahead of time instead of with the cleaner, and keep a record of which ones can be skipped.

“We could ultimately save $3,000 or $4,000 this year,” said Warren. He said the owner of Wilson’s commercial cleaning service did not have any problem with skipping the empty catch basins.

Public Works Director Doug Fortier also said he did not oppose the plan and it was unanimously approved by the council.