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Residents push back on proposed garbage fee increases; landlords seek bulk‑pickup options
Summary
At the May 22 council meeting residents and landlords urged the city to reconsider proposed garbage/collection fee increases and asked the city to add scheduled bulk pickups to reduce illegal dumping and landlord cleanup costs.
Several Auburn residents and landlords told the City Council on May 22 that proposed increases to garbage collection fees would create undue burdens and asked the city to consider scheduled citywide bulk‑pickup days instead of raising per‑unit fees.
Landlord Anna Boye Madanale said she started a petition opposing the proposed garbage fee increase and had collected “about 75 signatures so far.” She asked whether Auburn could adopt a system like Syracuse’s that provides multiple bulk‑pickup opportunities during the year at no extra charge, arguing it would lower illegal dumping and reduce costs landlords face to remove large items left after evictions. “We hope you will take these concerns into account before finalizing any decisions on the fee increase,” Anna Boye Madanale said.
Retired newspaper worker Michael Jackelone said the proposed fee increases would hit small property owners and seniors hard and questioned the city’s approach to other downtown projects; Councilors and staff responded that refuse fees are set to reflect actual disposal and transport costs. City staff later noted that mattress disposal cost the city about $60 per item as an example of the expenses that factors into refuse budgets.
Why this matters: Changes to refuse fees and service levels affect renters, landlords and residents on fixed incomes. Petition drives and public testimony may prompt council or staff to consider service alternatives such as periodic bulk pickups, fee waivers, or other targeted relief.
