Committee moves Chapter 94 changes tied to new solid‑waste contract to Common Council

The Ordinance Committee on April 15 voted to send proposed changes to Chapter 94 — solid waste collection and disposal — to the Common Council so the municipal code will align with a new solid‑waste contract that takes effect July 1.

Vanessa (DPW) summarized the ordinance changes, telling the committee the updates are intended to reflect the contract’s operational terms. “This ordinance is just a reflection of what our new contract, that will start as July 1, will be when our new contract with our new vendor, will be effective,” she said. Vanessa listed several principal changes: the contract will remove the option to opt out of curbside garbage collection within the Fourth Taxing District; it clarifies the definition of residential versus commercial collection (the city will not pick up commercial collection for properties with more than four units); and it replaces existing collection bins with a uniform container compatible with automated trucks to improve efficiency. The proposed ordinance also would prohibit loose bags placed outside bins.

The clerk reported no emails on the Chapter 94 item and only one attendee in the remote meeting; no public commenters spoke on this item. Committee members discussed the item briefly and noted the contract’s effective date makes the ordinance time‑sensitive; they moved the change to the Common Council so DPW has time to notify residents and prepare operational changes.

The committee approved forwarding Chapter 94 to the Common Council.

Votes at a glance: the Ordinance Committee voted to forward the Chapter 94 revisions to align the municipal code with the new contract.