Public engages in trash talk

Officials answer questions, address concerns regarding proposed additional PAYT fees

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — The approximately 20 residents present during a public forum on the pending trash ordinance Tuesday asked many questions of city officials, and brought up such issues as reviving use of methane from the city dump for heating and electricity, asking the state to release money to cover the shortfall in the pay-as-you-throw trash program, and special rates for seniors who produce very little trash. Health Director Bernard F. Sullivan opened the meeting with a presentation of the parameters of the new ordinance and the reasoning behind the fee increases, which he said are simply to cover operating costs for trash pick up. Although the public forum was held so that residents could find out why the proposed fee increases were necessary, Mr. Hawke stressed that everyone in the city are going to pay the fees, which includes himself and councilors. “This is not an us-and-them issue,” said Mr. Hawke. “We are all in this together.” The first resident to speak at the meeting was former city councilor Joanne Bernard, who served on the council for 22 years. Ms. Bernard wondered what happened to an initiative to either sell the methane released from the city’s landfill or to harness the naturally released gas to provide electricity and heat to City Hall. Mr. Sullivan said that in the past, the city has done extensive research aimed at using the gas as an energy source, which would be the only option that would make sense economically, and there were very few energy suppliers interested in the methane. “The only (option) that had an economic feasibility was to attempt to use it to produce electricity,” said Mr. Sullivan. “And of the 20 packages we sent out, we only had one come back.” He added that the only interested party requested more time to make their decision, and then later informed the city that it was no longer interested. Ms. Bernard also stressed that city officials need to get members of state government to back them up, and ask for additional funding, because the recent dramatic increase in gas prices that is making these additional fees necessary are affecting the quality of life for many members of the community. “We know the bite,” said Ms. Bernard. “We the people that have families and that are seniors — we know the bite, and we know that you people do your best, we know that. But you councilors are going to need the help from the state.” Another concerned resident, Joan Gould, said that she thought the city should acquire the additional funding from the approximately $600,000 left in the city’s dump account. “I say let’s have a little gumption and get in touch with the state and ask them to release $125,000 of this money toward this latest additional cost being inflicted on the citizens of Gardner,” said Ms. Gould. Although it is true that there is a substantial amount of money left in the account, Mr. Sullivan stressed that all of the remaining money is going to be needed to maintain and repair the landfill, which the city is required to do for 30 years, and that this fund has already been somewhat decimated. “You’ve looked into it and found that we still have $600,000, do the math,” said Mr. Sullivan. “The landfill closed on Dec. 31, 2005 and we had $800,000 back then. If now in 2008 we are down to $600,000, one-quarter of the money is gone in three years and we still have a lot of time left to maintain it.” Also raising concerns among residents is the fact that regardless of how much trash a resident produces, there is one flat fee for everyone who utilizes trash pick-up. Eeva Stromski said that she thought councilors should consider retired senior citizens and residents who put out very little garbage. “I personally only put out one little plastic grocery store bag for a week,” said Ms. Stromski. “And I am charged exactly the same as people who put out a full 40-gallon container.” Ms. Stromski added that she thought senior citizens who live alone should be granted special consideration within the structure of the ordinance. Mr. Hawke said that he was surprised with the small number of citizens who attended the open forum, and that it was not because of a lack of notice, considering the scheduled meeting was published twice in The Gardner News and the meeting would be broadcast on a local television channel. “When we have 1/100th of a percent of the population showing up, that will definitely affect it,” said Mr. Hawke. The ordinance will be presented for first printing at the next City Council meeting, and in order to be enacted for the coming fiscal year, must be printed twice and finalized before the end of June. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 5/28/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 126)