When Dave Menard was named interim director of the town's Municipal Maintenance Department not much more than a week ago, he inherited a lot of rubbish. Literally.

The Selectmen had recently instituted a "carry in, carry out" trash policy on town beaches, and if there's anything that all residents can agree upon, it's that there's a big trash problem in the summer — especially in Onset.

Faced with a cash-strapped budget, but overflowing trash cans during busy weekends, town officials decided to try the "carry in, carry out" policy, which requires beach-goers to take any garbage with them when leaving.

The barrels have been removed, but the policy has been met with mixed emotions. The Selectmen plan to discuss the issue at their meeting tonight, July 9.

Menard, who took over for 27-year Municipal Maintenance veteran Mark Gifford following his retirement last month, is approaching the problem with a positive attitude and his crew behind him.

Speaking on Tuesday after the busiest weekend of the summer thus far, Menard recapped his strategy.

Because thousands of people were expected in Onset Village for the annual Onset-Wareham fireworks display on Saturday, Menard and his crew placed 25 trash barrels in key locations on the Bluffs — not the beach — "to try to consolidate the trash," he explained.

Big, blue barrels were placed at each walkway to Onset Beach and in parking areas.

"Trash was still everywhere, but I think it would have been worse," Menard said. "I think it's a good idea for events."

Then, at 5 a.m. on Sunday, the entire Municipal Maintenance Department — including office workers — stormed Onset Village to take on the trash.

From dirty diapers to pizza boxes… it wasn't a pretty sight. The weather was humid and approaching 90 degrees, so it wasn't a pretty smell, either.

"They all worked hard and I appreciate it," Menard, who sat in his green, broken in Municipal Maintenance uniform, emphasized. "By the time everything was washed and cleaned, it was 9 a.m."

So, when most people ventured outside on Sunday, the village was spotless.

The problem, however, is that the department can't attack the trash like that every weekend. Weekend work means overtime, which the town simply could not budget for this year.

Just the Sunday morning cleanup after the fireworks cost the department more than $2,600 in overtime. On a typical weekend, overtime totals more than $2,000, Town Administrator Derek Sullivan has said.

And because some workers' union contracts specifically state that the work week is Monday through Friday, Menard can't move schedules and days off.

But he's acutely aware of the trash problem and says he's determined to work around the budget constraints.

"I'm going to throw all my ideas out there," says Menard, though cognizant of the fact that Sullivan may eventually choose another candidate for the permanent director position. "Why not speak up and try to make this place a little better?"

Menard, who will celebrate 17 years with the town in September, notes that contracts with rubbish removal companies are expiring, and he's hoping that other companies might provide better options for the town, such as larger, solar-operated barrels with trash compactors. He also plans to poll other Cape towns to see how they deal with trash.

For now, Menard is taking things one step at a time and is quick to thank the people who are helping him in his new role, including: his 14-person crew for stepping up to clean Onset on Sunday, the Harbormaster Department for assisting with manpower to install the safety fence around the fireworks, and the Wareham Police Department for doing "a great job with the crowds" during the event.

The Municipal Maintenance Department maintains the town's roads, cemeteries, playgrounds, beaches, and other public spaces. The director also oversees the Water Pollution Control Facility.

"I want to help everybody," Menard stressed. "That's what I signed up for: public service."

Municipal Maintenance Interim Director Dave Menard wanted to make sure that each worker who helped on Sunday got a special thank you:

Glenn Barrows, Frank Bergamasco, Roger Brousseau, Deborah Correia, Mark DeBonise, Jose Duarte, Steven Gonsalves, Mary Healy, Kevin Hunt, James Maxim, Andrew White, Patrick Murphy, Wayne Sellars, and Donald Lake.