The River Reporter,
August 8, 1996
Monticello dumps private trash haulers
By TOM RUE
MONTICELLO - Monticello officials voted to reject all bids for privatized trash pickup, at an August 5 village board meeting, leaving bidders scratching their heads.
Instead of privateers making curbside pickups, residents will shell out a hefty fee increase. At present, the hike stands at 43%, but this could go down if the village succeeds in promised belt-tightening.
Administrators will revise the trash budget, acting manager George Panchyshyn pledged, with an eye toward efficiency. If they succeed, he claimed, fees will not rise as much as was approved prior to a recent public hearing where comments on the privatatization proposal were received.
A majority who spoke at the hearing opposed privatization. "There's too much fear," said Panchyshyn.
Officials echoed a proposal put forth by former mayor Robert Friedland to store waste at a Waverly Ave. transfer station until it can be landfilled. Panchyshyn promised to seek landfills outside Sullivan County.
"Maintain the department we have. Do the best we can to keep down the costs, and aggressively pursue another landfill," trustee David Rosenburg summed up.
Advertise or "let George do it"?
Mayor James Kenny appointed trustees Michael Levinson and Gary Sommers to a committee to report back to the board on steps necessary to replace former manager David Berner. Resident Betty Friedland challenged the genuineness of the board's intent to seek candidates, as opposed to letting Panchyshyn do it until he retires next year.
Panchyshyn was appointed acting manager, in exchange for a pay hike and a waiver of the usual residency requirement.
Betty Friedland pressed the board to explain from what budget line they planned to move a manager's salary, once one is hired. "George is the ultimate safety net for this village. We have quality people who are not going to set us adrift," Rosenberg asserted.
Proposed recission of tow-truck law dies
Tow-truck operators debated the fairness of a local law passed on July 17 governing a rotating list of who gets called by village police dispatchers in certain traffic emergencies. Levinson supported returning to the status which he said existed before July 17, which would mean requiring tow-truck operators principle place of business to be in the Town of Thompson, in order to be on the police list.
After hearing both sides, officials appeared prepared to vote until Rosenberg pointed out that the draft law contained no locality restrictions at all. Attorney Michael Davidoff said the law would have to be redrafted and a new public hearing slated in order to make the change Levinson suggested.
The change died for the moment, though it may resurface.
Other business
In other business, the board:
Appointed Dorothy McCoy to a 5-year term on the Monticello Housing Authority, replacing the Rev. Willie Smith.
Accepted an annual $18,500 from the Town of Thompson for the operation of the Neighborhood Facility, and discussed seeking contributions from the county for its uses of the building.
Heard a a plea by Jesse York for a new basketball court, and an idea by Solomon Finn to bring back "midnight madness" business promotions.
Discussed a newly proposed "Founders Day" committee, and a project by Freemasons to restore the gravestones of the founders of Monticello.
Haggled over terms for public events to be held in the village, reserving July 6, 1997 for next year's Sullivan County Festival.
Were told by chief Michael Brennan that three
new police officers will be introduced at the next meeting.
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