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Cortland trustees renew five-year trash contract with Lakeshore Recycling Systems over resident objections
Summary
The board approved a renewal with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2031) after discussing service complaints and a smaller-than-expected rate increase; Trustee Haier voted no. LRS representatives described operational practices and offered follow-up materials.
The Town of Cortland Board of Trustees voted 5–1 on June 8 to renew a five-year contract with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031. Trustee Corson moved the measure and Trustee Siewierski seconded; Trustee Haier cast the lone no vote.
Resident Ben Haier addressed the board before the vote, raising concerns about damage to his personal property and broader neighborhood service issues tied to LRS and how the contract was negotiated. Trustees and staff said they have received specific service and billing complaints from parts of town and asked residents to report problems to LRS customer service or area representatives.
Mayor Pietrowski framed the deal as a cost-saving negotiation: "He was expecting a 12% or more jump, and it ended up only being about 4%." Board members noted the town's ten-year experience with LRS had been "positive overall" even as several trustees urged the company to address recurring issues. Trustee Fioretto said she would have liked to see more competition and asked staff to communicate concerns to LRS to hold the company accountable.
Jordan Kraber, Municipal Services Manager for LRS, described standard operating procedures and offers for follow-up: "each truck is equipped with a 360-degree camera that allows footage of pick ups to be viewed by supervisors." Kraber said trucks do multiple loops of a block as needed, perform right-hand turns because of equipment design, and use the same drivers on pick-up zones to improve efficiency. She offered to provide reports and operations notes when service issues are reported and said an informational brochure and updated billing portal would be available in June or July.
The board directed that LRS contact information and representative business cards be distributed to trustees and staff. The vote finalizes the contract renewal; residents with ongoing issues were instructed to contact LRS customer service and the town clerk's office to document problems.
