ATTLEBORO -- The city council is formally questioning Mayor Kevin Dumas' purchase of trash barrels during the pay-as-you-throw trash furor over the last two weeks.

At the request of City Councilor Bill Bowels, the matter was referred to the human services committee, which was asked to determine if the action taken by the mayor was proper and followed city and state law.

While Bowles has concerns about how the barrels will be paid for, he said he is especially concerned about an apparent lack of criteria for distribution of the barrels.

`` We have a situation here that's without set criteria,'' he said. `` I'm sure that's something that can't be done.''

Dumas purchased 58 barrels on Feb. 10 at a cost of about $13 each from the Lowe's home improvement store in Seekonk when residents were flooding city hall with complaints about a health department crackdown to enforce the mandated barrel size of 36 gallons or less. Many residents said they couldn't find a barrel the appropriate size or couldn't afford one.

At the time, Dumas said the temporary free program was an effort to help the city `` get past a difficult time.''

Some of the barrels were passed out that day to people complaining about the trash program.

Since then, the city has taken delivery of about 200 additional barrels at a cost of about $3,000.