| Author |
Message |
    
ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 408
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 2:17 pm: |     |
I've posted something similar elsewhere; please forgive me this sort of duplication. I am hoping a member of the TC might read and respond.
I am confused by the proposal that garbage no longer be collected from the back of houses, but that residents bring it to the curb. It seems to be alleged that the savings the township would realize would be substantial.
Perhaps I am missing some facts. But I do not understand how diminishing the level of service in an arrangement I have personally with WM can save the township any money. How is the township involved in my service agreement with WM? As I asked elsewhere, if I use less ekectricity in my home, will the township's PSE&G bill go down, too?
Also -- when we were house-hunting, one of the appealing aspects of Maplewood was not having curbside trash collection. After living in NYC for many years, I was sicksicksick of looking a trash cans. I think the aesthetic aspect of backyard collection is important.
I would love someone to address this. |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 3155
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 5:09 pm: | |
Really Trying:
I may be wrong but I seem to remember that the article you are refering to went on to say that the town was looking into entering into a contract with a garbage hauler on behalf of all of the residents of the town. If true, this could imply that garbage pick-up would then become part of the service package we pay for in our municipal taxes. I'm not sure how adding on a municipal service would reduce taxes.
A better cost saver for most of us and for the environment would be to switch to a per unit charge for garbage pick-up. Those who recycled and produced less overall waste would see their bills reduced. |
galileo
Citizen
Username: Galileo
Post Number: 147
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 11:22 pm: | |
We are billed separately for sewer use. We would be billed separately by the town for garbage. I hope it doesn't happen. |
ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 409
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 11:34 am: | |
It sounds like a really stupid idea. Why should the township get involved in this? |
Dave
Citizen
Username: Dave
Post Number: 7456
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 12:18 pm: | |
If it's bundled with the property tax bill does it become a tax deduction? |
ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 410
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 12:31 pm: | |
No, because it's not a tax. Besides, it's such a small amount that it wouldn't much matter. |
Dave
Citizen
Username: Dave
Post Number: 7458
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 12:42 pm: | |
Then it's silly. |
garthnsarah
Citizen
Username: Garthnsarah
Post Number: 8
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 25, 2004 - 2:14 pm: | |
I would hate to see everyone's garbage on the street. I don't mind the recycling because it's less messy and goes pretty quickly (and I'm all for recycling/reducing). But, it could get messy very fast, especially with the racoons we have on our side of town.
I like the pay-by-bulk idea. I'd be happy to pay for more/less. |
Reflective
Citizen
Username: Reflective
Post Number: 538
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 25, 2004 - 6:38 pm: | |
gns:
With waste pick-up, a fixed fee with responsibilities spelled out is vital. Pay-by-bulk sounds good but is fraught with unfairness and over charging (and fraud).
In a community what is best is to lay out the pros and cons of each alternative, solicit resident input, fine-tune a solution, and then the elected people vote on an approach. That's called leadership and accountability.
Most important is getting resident input and as much resident consensus as possible before the vote. If the process is fair and most residents will be satisfied.
The BOE is a woeful failure in this regard(apologies in advance to Brian) and the TC is slightly below average in this approach.
"It's fairness, stupid", to paraphrase some uninformed, narcissic, lacking-legacy presidential candidate.
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page