| Author |
Message |
    
Peter
Citizen
Username: Peter
Post Number: 21
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 1, 2005 - 8:06 pm: |     |
Something's definitely wrong around here.
My mom lives in Union -- they have bulk trash pick up EVERY SINGLE WEEK.
Anyone been househunting in Summit? |
Rick B
Citizen
Username: Ruck1977
Post Number: 833
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 1, 2005 - 9:05 pm: | |
we should STILL advertise bulk pickup...
I mean, how expensive can this be? By morning, everything is gone and there is nothing left to be picked up.
If we advertise it, stuff will get picked up. Whatever is left in the morning, bring it back in for spring! |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 2410
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, August 1, 2005 - 11:08 pm: | |
I thought that one bulk pickup was built in to the garbage service that we pay WM for and that it was the second bulk pickup that sometimes came under budget axes. What changed? |
Bill P
Citizen
Username: Mrincredible
Post Number: 487
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - 9:57 am: | |
sac,
I think we still get the one we're paying Waste Management for directly, and the one the town paid for has been eliminated.
This would not bother me so much if there was a convenient place to take large items for disposal. I was at my parent's house in Saratoga Springs this past weekend and on Saturday I helped my dad take a bathtub to the town dump. No questions asked.
Contrast that with the time I had to drive into an urban wasteland section of Elizabeth to find our obscure, out-of-the way dumping station and pay for the privelege of throwing out my own trash. |
crabby
Citizen
Username: Crabbyappleton
Post Number: 216
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - 10:50 am: | |
If you're nice to your trash guys, they'll take just about anything anytime. |
Peter
Citizen
Username: Peter
Post Number: 22
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - 3:02 pm: | |
Crabby,
Your post reminds me about the time I called WM for a "special" pick up of extra stuff. I was supposed to be home for the supervisor to come out and estimate the charge. Then I was supposed to be home when the truck came a few days later to pick it up, and I was supposed to pay in cash to the driver. Which got me to thinking . . . . |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 2416
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - 3:18 pm: | |
This wouldn't be the first year that the second bulk pickup was eliminated. Given that they are only twice (or now once) a year it doesn't really make that big a difference. You have to hang onto the stuff until the pickup date anyway so what's another six months, really, if it saves on the taxes. If you have something that is too big (or too whatever) to store then you have to handle it some other way anyway. And if you are in the category of "I'm willing to pay the extra cost", then just call up WM (or grease the skids with your garbage guys if that works for you) to have them do a special pickup as noted above.
However, I do think that it is helpful if we know this at the beginning of the year so that we can be extra sure to get stuff out the first time if there isn't going to be a next time that year. And, also, it is key that the schedule is communicated well. (I think that they have been doing better about that in recent times.)
I also hope that they will work on the schedules to avoid hitting heavy vacation times like the public school spring breaks, etc. as happened this spring to some folks. This is especially true if it is only going to happen once a year.
I'm really NOT willing to pay the probable cost for weekly or monthly bulk pickups in my tax bill because I wouldn't take that much more advantage of it anyway. Depending on the cost, I might go either way on the second annual pickup which is under discussion here. |
Nonymous Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 8721
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - 3:34 pm: | |
sac, the fees are not in our taxes, remember? Or were you using the term loosely?
|
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 9089
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - 3:38 pm: | |
The last time this came up and we eliminated a trash pickup I think the Town saved about $50,000 if I recall. I often think this was part of the reason DeLuca and Ryan were not reelected to the TC. 
Bulk pickup day is the third rail of Maplewood politics. |
dominique vitali
Citizen
Username: Dom
Post Number: 1
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - 3:42 pm: | |
My question is why do alot of surrounding towns have their garbage pick-up completely covered in their taxes and we dont? where is all our money going exactly? Residents in other towns can put out bulk every week and it gets taken, And they get their recycling picked up every week as opposed to twice a month. And they dont have a 2 bag limit. Part of the problem is I'd like to see where all my tax money is going, since we clearly dont have the advantages of other surrounding towns, but in the meantime we are also looking into hiring a company other than Waste Management to pick up our trash. It would be nice to not stress out if we happen to have 3 bags of garbage or a couple of large branches that need to be taken... |
crabby
Citizen
Username: Crabbyappleton
Post Number: 218
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - 4:04 pm: | |
2 bag limit? I don't believe that is correct. Maybe 2 can limit which fits 4 or 5 bags. I f I have bags that don't fit in a can, I put them out on the curb in the morning. No prob. |
dominique vitali
Citizen
Username: Dom
Post Number: 2
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - 4:16 pm: | |
you're right. I meant 2 cans. Regardless, it is a limitation that residents of other towns don't have to deal with.
|
tcedwards
Citizen
Username: Tcedwards
Post Number: 97
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 - 6:52 pm: | |
I just found out about the Bulk pickup today via "The Maplewood Leaflet". This town gov and state appears to have no control and it is clear our state gov isn't any better.
Who do we call on to truly fix the fiscal problems in New Jersey?
You folks remember our plastic recycleables are no longer picked up either.
Mr. Profeta and town council what is going on here!
What is this about our taxes going up $3,000.00? |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5994
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 - 7:46 pm: | |
Taxes are going up because costs are going up -- exponentially. Stop by Town Hall and get a copy of this year's budget. You will see that almost every expense in the budget is mandated. There is very little room for any optional expenses.
If you think you have some viable ideas for controling municipal costs (i.e. reducing or at least maintaining the cost of the municipal portion of the annual tax bill) come out for the CBAC next year. If you can help solve our tax problem we will all be grateful.
Another point to remember is that the lion's share of our taxes go to the school district and the county -- not to the municipality. Therefore, it is also necessary to become involved in school board watching - CBAC has a school budget subcommittee by the way and becoming more knowledgeable in how the county is spending that portion of our tax dollars. |
wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 1477
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 - 8:22 pm: | |
It's also necessary (imo) to become involved in an information group called Educational Funding which is having an amazing panel discussion on October 26, partly sponsored, I believe, through the Adult School. As the date gets closer, look for further information. As an Abbott Rim community and a community in congested Essex County, it behooves us to understand how schools are funded and what changes, if any, are needed and desired.
|
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5998
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 4, 2005 - 4:42 pm: | |
Does anyone know whatever happened to the proposed Abbott Rim legislation which would have provided additional school funding to districts boardering on Abbott districts? |
mtierney
Citizen
Username: Mtierney
Post Number: 849
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 4, 2005 - 4:58 pm: | |
If enough people squawk about it, the TC will react and find the money - it's a pattern here. Remember the library hour cut backs?
A note of caution to anyone doing renovation work who has a dumpster sitting in the yard — guard it, or you'll see it grow with stuff you didn't put in! Desperate times create desperate citizens!
Meanwhile the town moves forward on building a multi-million dollar police headquarters - preparing also to use eminent domain to obtain the properties it needs. (According to a bit of the TC meeting I watched Tuesday on cable.) |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 763
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 4, 2005 - 5:09 pm: | |
So we saved $50,000 by eliminating bulk pickup? How much is that per household even? This seems so ridiculous. How about eliminating the Waste Management stranglehold on this community. Maybe a little competition would make the prices drop. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 8811
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 4, 2005 - 5:11 pm: | |
$50,000 divided by 6,000 homes is $8.33 per home.
|
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 764
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 4, 2005 - 5:16 pm: | |
How hard would it be to do an opt-in opt-out system, where whoever wants to be involved pays their portion of the $50,000. I'd gladly pay $50 once a year to have the convenience of a second bulk pickup. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6002
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 4, 2005 - 6:33 pm: | |
AlleyGater:
The opt in/opt out is one of the arguments which has been used to support dropping one of the two bulk pick up dates this year.
It is always possible to call WM and arrange for a special pick-up when you actually need it. |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 765
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 4, 2005 - 6:47 pm: | |
Did you read above the reasons why that is NOT a viable solution? |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 843
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 2, 2005 - 2:40 pm: | |
how about taking bids from other companies. this is ridiculous!! |
yabbadabbadoo
Citizen
Username: Yabbadabbadoo
Post Number: 250
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, September 2, 2005 - 10:33 pm: | |
Bids? In the hauling industry? And who do you expect to bid against WM? You are kidding, aren't you?
FF |
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