HAMPDEN — The Town Council approved an interim increase in the PERC tipping fee Monday night, but tabled or referred most other proposals to committees for more study.

Councilor Donald Muth said he would oppose the $19-a-ton increase demanded by PERC officials, and said there should be a cheer for Brewer, where the council declined the increase.

“In the final analysis, they may pay,” Muth conceded, “but they’re taking the position that a contract is a contract.” He said that there might be a deeper issue involved than a simple increase in fee and that more increases might be demanded by PERC. “They (treated) us with a pretty firm hand,” he said of original negotiations leading to a $14 tipping fee for the town. The increase would bring that figure to $33 a ton.

Town Manager Marie Baker recommended the increase, saying that PERC was “the only game in town.” Baker said that analysis of PERC’s financial problems indicated that communities should plan alternatives for solid waste disposal. A firm hired to examine PERC’s financial condition reported that the company faced a $3.5 million income shortfall.

Baker was joined by Councilor Charles McClure, who said that some communities had paid far more for disposal. Local officials should have known that PERC could not operate at fees originally negotiated. “Nineteen dollars is just the tip of the iceberg and we’re going to be paying a lot more before it’s over,” McClure predicted.

Chairman Marcia Summers told Muth that the increase was interim and that “this is not the time to rebel … We’ve got to compromise.” Councilors Muth and Kenneth Huntley voted against the increase, McClure, Summers, Susan Tennant, and Kay Carter approved it.

It was McClure who asked the council to endorse a letter to Sherry F. Huber, director of the Maine Waste Management Agency. That letter, approved by the council Monday night and signed by its members, criticized Huber for saying Maine communities’ problems with PERC were their problems. The letter asked for immediate MWMA action and said that Sawyer Environmental Recovery Facility landfill operations now accepting front end process residue from PERC would soon close but approval of a replacement landfill by MWMA was at least two years away.

After the agenda was completed, Baker told the council that Hampden officials should search for more landfill space. She suggested advertising for a site. Although Muth said the search might not succeed, some effort should be made. No vote was required, only a consensus, Summers said.

A proposed charter amendment providing for gender-neutral language remained tabled when officials agreed that a referendum should be held in the fall.

Discussion of demolition debris and solid waste fees was referred to the Solid Waste Committee.

Discussion of Town Hall expenses was referred to the Finance Committee.

A proposed revision to the solid waste licensing ordinance was referred to the Solid Waste Committee.

Proposed revisions to the sewer ordinance were referred to the Sewer Committee.

A $25 donation to Freeport for property tax relief efforts was approved. The money represented help to Freeport in providing information materials to other communities and officials.