Only after a lengthy and vociferous debate had degenerated into a shouting and name-calling spectacle did the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners finally award their solid waste and recyclables contract to a different hauler who will adopt a different method of collecting trash and recycling in the township.
Waste Management Inc. was awarded the contract for the collection and transportation of solid waste and recyclables over current carrier, J.P. Mascaro following the 4-3 vote Monday night.
President Linda Snyder and Commissioners Gerard Palagonia and Clair Hunsberger provided the dissenting votes.
Waste Management utilizes a toter system that features a significant recycling component.
At least two commissioners who voted in favor of Waste Management's proposal cited this as the reason for their votes.
The new automated pickup system approved Monday night will be a significant change in the way the township's refuse and recycling are collected.
Detractors noted that some of the township's diminutive streets are not conducive to automated pickup and the large toters will be difficult for some individuals, especially senior citizens used to carrying out a small bag or two of garbage, to handle.
Bulk collection and grass, leaf and Christmas tree pickups will continue under the deal with Waste Management.
The commissioners debate came after representatives and members of the public took turns to persuade commissioners to vote in favor of their side.
Commissioner Gerard Palagonia said that in his estimation Waste Management's toter system "won't work in 35 percent" of Whitehall Township, and that narrow streets could result in trucks damaging nearby structures.
He also added that the size of the toters could create a problem for senior citizens.
"In Whitehall Township, I like it the way it is," Palagonia said of the current contract with Mascaro.
Snyder said the entire concept of introducing the toter system was disrespectful to township residents, adding that in her opinion administrators could have taken more interest in garnering citizen input rather than "dictating" that residents should "conform" to the new systems.
"It's very demeaning not to deal with residents," Snyder said of how the proposal was introduced.
Snyder then went into a verbal diatribe saying the new plan amounted to an Orwellian "Big Brother" vision that the government knows what's best for the people it was chosen to represent.
"...it's Big Brother who wants the people to conform," Snyder said. "Well I don't need to conform to anything."
Secretary Dennis Hower noted he could appreciate both sides of the issue but that a vote for Waste Management would more likely result in increased recycling for the township and additional revenue.
"We need to increase our recycling," he said.
Commissioner Phil Armstrong agreed that it was a difficult decision and that he "did see the concerns" with going to the toter system, but said ultimately he thought the toter system's merits outweighed the negatives.
"I do see the concerns, but I also look at the rewards we have," he said of the toter system. "We can meet the needs of our residents and this (the system approved Monday night) is the future."
Later Commissioner Thomas Slonaker and Snyder became entangled in a torrid arguing match after Slonaker attempted to make a point about the merits of the toter system and was unable to complete his thoughts before he was repeatedly interrupted by Snyder.
After the arguing between the two continued Slonaker referred to both Snyder and Palagonia as "idiots."
"Oh well so I'm an idiot, well thank you very much Mr. Slonaker for informing me of that," Snyder said in loud sarcastic voice, as the meeting degenerated into a shouting match between commissioners on-and-off for a few minutes with little discernible productivity achieved.
Toward the conclusion of the meeting Slonaker apologized to Palagonia and Snyder for calling them a derogatory name.
Palagonia accepted the apology, while Snyder did not.
In other business, commissioners also approved the township's $21.3 million, 2015 budget, which contains no tax increase.
During his report Mayor Edward Hozza Jr. said the township's curbside yard waste pickup would end on Dec. 27 and resume in the first full week of March.
from 69News:Home http://ift.tt/1Bv59EE
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire