Residents appeal for choice at trash hearing

Residents appeal for choice at trash hearing

It was the second public hearing on a trash proposal for the Village of Brockport and while only a handful of people spoke on the subject, the meeting room at the Sweden Senior Center was filled to capacity.

Village Trustee David Wagenhauser outlined the village's proposal to contract with refuse collectors to provide a village-wide trash collection service at the March 6 meeting. The proposal would entail refuse collection companies bidding on a contract prepared by the village with the winning bidder providing service to either the entire village or through one or more village districts that would be developed as part of the proposal.

"The advantages to this type of a proposal are mainly financial," Wagenhauser said. "There would be a savings to the residents and businesses and the village's streets would experience less wear and tear because there would only be one truck per street and that would help prolong the life of the streets and village infrastructure."

Under the proposal, Wagenhauser said, the village would also reap the benefit of reducing or eliminating $12,000 that it pays annually for refuse collection.

"The experience of neighboring municipalities is that there is a 50 percent reduction in rates to about $13 or $14 a month," he said. "This equated to a savings of about $150 per year for most residents."

Those residents who didn't wish to participate in the proposal could "opt-out" by finding other, legal means, to dispose of their trash or utilizing the Sweden Recycling Center.

Three refuse collectors are currently allowed to operate in the village. "If residents inform us they don't want to participate and have found other means for trash disposal, they can opt out," Wagenhauser said. "Those who opt out, won't be charged for trash collection services."

The village will have to determine costs associated with commercial or residential dumpster service and if that should be put out for bid. Wagenhauser told those at the meeting that the process from public hearing to approval by the village board to put the proposal out to bid and final completion of the proposal could take up to one year before it would be implemented.

"If we have competition and a competitive bidding process for this service the residents will reap the benefits," Wagenhauser said. "In a time when the village is facing tough financial issues and mandatory fees we need to look for ways to save money and pass those savings along to the taxpayers."

The overwhelming majority of residents who spoke were against the village's proposal to consolidate trash pick up.

Resident Donovan Dunn urged the board to keep things the way they are. "We should be able to choose our own trash carrier. We don't want too much more government in our lives," he said. "When government gets involved, prices go up."

Betty Northrup wanted to know if surveys had been sent to residents to gauge their opinions. "It was stated before that pick up times were mandated by the times the landfills were open so I don't see how this proposal will do away with 5 a.m. pick ups," she said. "If you can opt out of the plan, can you opt in? How many residents have actually complained about the early pick up times or about cans on the curb?"

Wayne Bennett echoed the views of others saying he was against the change. "I think it's kind of ridiculous to offer residents an option to opt in or out, either everyone should be in or out," he said. "How can you figure a price when you don't know how many people will participate?"

"We don't need something like this shoved down our throats," John Lessord said. "You should get out of our business."

John Bush added, "You say that garbage trucks are destroying the streets? Well, I see more school buses on a daily basis than I do garbage trucks."

Business owner and resident Rich Miller said he gives Wagenhauser credit for taking the initiative. "I can't believe I'm saying this but if we get a choice and if it costs us less, I say why not," he said. "If we are getting options and it costs less, why not grab it."

Hal Legg said he prefers the option of investigating his own options and said he wasn't sure if the potential savings could offset the lack of freedom of choice.

Steve Changaris, manager of the northeast region of the National Solid Wastes Management Association, said that haulers like the option of dealing one-on-one with their customers. "A change like the village is proposing will disrupt the business model," he said. "With a proposal like this, haulers will lose business, some of the small haulers could even close."

Dan Boon of Boon & Sons from Spencerport agreed a change such as the village is proposing would hurt small haulers like himself. "This will put some small haulers out of business but eventually this kind of change will affect everyone's livelihood."

Representatives from Suburban Disposal and Waste Management also spoke against the village's proposal.

Resident Hanny Heyen said she listened to all of the issues being raised and agreed they were important but said she pays $280 a year with Waste Management. "I want to wait to renew until I see what the board is going to do," she said. "I know that no one wants the government in their front or back pockets, but for me, it's going to be a decision that's purely financial."