Resident asks Mendon council for audit after alleged trash overcharges

Jennifer Warfield, a Mendon resident, told the City Council during the public-comment period that she believes she has been billed at the wrong trash-can size since she moved to Mendon in August 2024 and asked the council to audit municipal trash accounts.

"I've been incorrectly billed for my trash since I moved here in August 2024," Warfield said, asking whether the city bills for 64- or 96-gallon cans and requesting a full reconciliation. She said she contacted the recorder more than two months ago and that the error may predate her occupancy.

City Recorder Holly (last name not specified in the transcript) acknowledged the concern and invited Warfield and the city's treasurer to meet right after the meeting to begin reconciliation. The recorder offered a side-room meeting immediately and Warfield indicated she could meet then.

The council did not vote on any formal measure at the meeting; staff were directed to start an account review and reconciliation with the resident. No timeline or scope for a broader audit of all accounts was established on the record.

The exchange did not include details on how many accounts might be affected or whether Waste Management or another vendor provides the city billing data. Warfield said she believes the vendor may have provided a spreadsheet to the city but that a reconciliation had not been completed.

Ending: The council offered Warfield a prompt, staff-level meeting with the treasurer and recorder to begin reviewing her account; the council did not adopt a formal audit motion at the meeting. If the resident and staff raise further concerns, the council could consider a broader audit or an item on a future agenda.