Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sanitation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council weighs automated 95‑gallon sanitation can program; staff to return with logistics
Summary
Staff proposed replacing disparate 35‑gal cans with stamped 95‑gal wheeled containers and retrofitting a truck lift. Estimated first‑year cost was about $87,500; council requested additional details on logistics and accommodations for elderly or multi‑unit households before any vote.
Staff presented a plan to standardize residential trash service with stamped 95‑gallon wheeled cans and an automated lift on the town truck, intended to reduce scattered corrals, minimize litter and reduce manual lifting for employees.
The town estimated the initial cost at about $87,500: roughly $59 per can for 1,000 cans (about $59,000) plus tagging/stamping and approximately $26,000 to retrofit the older truck with a lift. Staff said the town would provide the first can and require replacement purchases if a can was lost or broken.
Council members raised practical and equity concerns. "What about the little old people that live alone that can't..." asked one council member, citing difficulty moving large cans; others noted alley vs. curb logistics and the need for accommodations. Staff said assistance for individual residents could be arranged and committed to return with detailed logistics, including how to handle multi‑unit properties, alley pickup, and truck wear issues.
No formal vote was taken; council asked staff to bring a detailed implementation plan and cost breakdown to a future meeting before adopting any fee increase or program rollout.
