BELHAVEN — An unusual dilemma came to light at Monday night’s Belhaven Board of Aldermen meeting.

Board members discussed whether to reimburse a resident for an overbilling on trash service. According to town Manager Woody Jarvis, Arthur Bonner was billed for three trash cans every month, but he reported that he only used one.

Ten months after the overbilling began, Jarvis said Bonner approached him about the bills in November, and his account was corrected.

Jarvis said there was no way for the Town to know Bonner had shifted to the use of one trash can during that 10-month time span.

On Monday, the board argued over whether to reimburse Bonner, despite his waiting to bring the problem to the Town’s attention. Residents are charged $13 a can every month, so Bonner was overbilled by $260, Jarvis said.

Mayor Adam O’Neal demanded that Bonner be compensated because he felt like it was the right thing to do, suggesting that not doing so would be an underhanded move. Alderman Amos Wilson spoke up and suggested that the $260 compensation simply be applied to Bonner’s delinquent account balance.

Others viewed it differently, however.

“I did not agree with crediting his account, and I still don’t,” Jarvis said.

He said the situation could be compared to cable service. If a customer signs up for service for three TVs but only watches one, the burden lies on the customer to notify the company. Bonner did not notify the town for 10 months, but as soon as he did, the account was corrected, according to Jarvis.

“From that time forward, he was billed for one (trash can),” he said.

Alderman Steve Carawan made a motion to reimburse Bonner the $260 by applying it to his overdue account balance. Wilson seconded the motion.

Board Chairman Greg Satterthwaite, Alderman Ricky Credle and Alderman Yvonne DeRuiz took the majority, though, voting against the reimbursement.