Brentwood leaders weigh composting pilot, summer-camp safety and parking enforcement

Brentwood council members used the Feb. 17 meeting to probe options for a composting pilot, address summer-camp safety findings and seek clarity on parking-permit enforcement after residents reported receiving tickets and tow warnings.

Town Administrator Shelley Dorsey Washington described a door-to-door composting program offered in another municipality as a model: "That program is door to door. It's $30 a month per household," she said, adding the town could consider subsidizing part of the fee or covering costs for a limited number of homes. "We could talk about... if the town could maybe pick up the cost for 20 homes, or if we wanted to do a share cost," she told council members.

Council members asked for estimates tying composting participation to possible reductions in town trash costs; Dorsey Washington said she lacked tonnage data and could not provide an immediate cost-offset calculation but proposed providing small compost bins at a workshop and exploring shared-cost models.

On summer programming, Parks and Planning told the town the community-center site did not meet county safety standards for a summer camp because of bathroom ventilation, low ceilings that limit indoor activities and proximity to streets. "They did report out... there was an issue with dogs in the park and the staff member being attacked," Dorsey Washington said. Council members discussed alternatives (nearby elementary schools and the North Brentwood Community Center) and possible nonprofit-run options.

Resident and council member Glenn Harris Jr. raised questions about recent parking tickets and possible tow warnings in specific neighborhoods. "Several of my neighbors got... potential tow tickets or warning tickets," he said. The clerk and administrator clarified the town's permit rules: residents are eligible for three permits (two regular and one visitor), permits cost $5 each, and the citation form lists permit fines and filing fees; staff agreed to improve communication about enforcement zones and signage.

Treasurer figures presented that evening show the town reported a total cash balance of $2,162,019.81 at the end of January and a year-to-date surplus of $1,058,105.61, figures council members said will inform decisions about whether the town can fund pilot subsidies or one-off program costs.

Council directed staff to collect further data (compost tonnage estimates and pricing scenarios), continue outreach for summer-camp alternatives and improve resident communication about parking permits and enforcement.