Bruno’s Rolloff waste management company wants to increase its rates at the Tisbury transfer station, but the town selectmen this week asked for more information.

Bruno’s representative Greg Carroll came before the selectmen at their meeting to discuss the request. The company wants to increase the rate for municipal solid waste from $158.50 to $174.50 per ton, increase the rate for construction debris from $177 to $194.75 per ton, and increase the rate for recyclables from $115 to $150 per ton. Under the proposal, the rate for metal would go down from $90 to $50 per ton.

“We’re asking for an increase based on the increases that we’ve experienced on the mainland at disposal sites,” Mr. Carroll said. He said the company has also had to change the way it processes recyclables, and has incurred transportation costs moving to a cheaper disposal site further away. He added: “We have our own internal expenses with the employees — the health care, so on and so forth.”

Bruno’s contracts with the towns of Tisbury and Oak Bluffs to process solid waste and transfer it off-Island.

Department of Public Works director Ray Tattersall told selectmen the town could afford the requested increases. “Budget wise we’re doing very well,” he said.

Despite the reassurances, selectman Tristan Israel said he’d be willing to absorb an increased cost of services, but hesitated when it came to employee benefits. “We had a contract with you,” Mr. Israel said. “If this contract is untenable for you because you’ve had large workmen’s comp increases for example. I’m just saying that should be brought back to us in a different context in my opinion, or broken out from the increased cost of recyclables.”

Selectman Melinda Loberg agreed. “Seems like we don’t quite have all the information,” she said.

The board requested that the company outline which part of the increases were directly related to waste processing costs, and which were related to employee health care increases. They voted to continue the discussion on Feb. 6.

In other business, harbor master John Crocker updated selectmen on work at the Lake Street landing which was underway despite difficult weather conditions earlier this month. He also updated selectmen on the permit process for dredging in Lake Tashmoo, reiterating budget challenges. “The lowest bid was more than the money we had,” he said.

Selectman Israel brought up the possibility of restructuring the harbor management committee. “I would like to look at in June when we do our appointments — the harbor master is great, doing a great job — to look at our structure see if we’re asking for too many members, too little members,” he said.

Selectmen suggested the shellfish committee consider raising a flag to signal when it is too cold for scalloping in addition to posting the information on the town website. But shellfish constable Danielle Ewart balked at the idea. “Before they go, they need to check. Or they can call me,” she said.

The board also heard an update on ongoing aquaculture license regulations being developed by the shellfish committee. A moratorium on aquaculture in the town is due to expire in May. “We have been discussing this at length in the shellfish committee meetings,” said Ms. Ewart. “We came up with these regulations as a process through which aquaculture could potentially be done inside or outside depending on whether it meets the state recommendations.”

Mrs. Loberg noted the town has already been approached by someone wanting to try marine farming.

Town administrator John Grande updated selectmen on the Tisbury School renovation costs. “Those numbers are starting to solidify as I understand it,” he said, adding the total cost is projected at about $48 million. He said the budget will be reviewed at the Massachusetts School Building Authority meeting in Boston this Friday.

Discussion also is under way about how the project will be managed. The school building committee voted to use what is termed a construction manager at risk approach at their meeting on Tuesday evening, but Mr. Israel voiced concern that other approaches shouldn’t be ruled out just yet.