BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- Village trustees are poised to make changes to the village refuse code but it will come at a large cost.

During the July 16 village board meeting Mayor Greg Paquin told trustees that despite being in support of changing the village code to allow for larger garbage containers, he said it would take time and money to do so.

"Every time you change the village code it costs money. Looking at just that one change that we would make, it would have caused a bunch of changes. So, we would have paid for one change, then had another public hearing and paid for multiple changes after," he said.

Paquin instead suggested the board have a discussion on the matter to hammer out details before holding a public hearing.

"We can have a. Public hearing to discuss the actual refuse code that way. It's all encompassing, rather than a narrow definition," he said.

Paquin said following conversation and public feedback during last month's meeting, a meeting was held with Department of Public Works Superintendent Marty Miller.

Paquin said a primary concern with the move to larger garbage bins would be the weight limit of 40 pounds.

"One of the big concerns is that by doing that (move to larger containers), people aren't going to follow, whether knowingly or unknowingly, the 40 pound (limit," he said.

Paquin instead suggested moving to larger, 45 gallon containers for recycling.

"If it's really just paper, tin cans, cardboard and stuff, I don't think the amount that you would have to stack in there would be astronomical," Paquin said.

Paquin said larger recycling bins would be more convenient for residents.

Trustee Christine Winston noted that her family uses two recycling bins currently as she voiced support for larger bins.

Paquin said that a move to larger garbage cans could be problematic however, suggesting that heavy waste like kitty litter can add significant weight and could be problematic for DPW crews.

Miller said with a move to 45 gallon garbage cans it would almost guarantee that cans would exceed the weight limit, leading to garbage being tagged.

"With that being said, now you're looking at your tagging of the garbage that's being taken out. Now you have to revert back...for the people to lighten the load. So, to me you're not gaining anything with the 40 gallon (cans)," he said.

Some suggestions to assist crews and residents alike included drilling holes in the bottom of cans to allow rain water to escape and other means to lighten the cans.

Miller and trustees alike said the excess weight could lead to injuries and drive up worker compensation costs.

"You don't want these men that are doing your garbage to be on workman's comp for the next how many years," Trustee Ken McGowan said.

He suggested a booth be setup during Fall Fest to educate the public about the dos and don't of refuse disposal to benefit both DPW crews and residents alike.

Miller said crews will likely have to be far more stringent after a recent meeting with the deputy director of Solid Waste for St. Lawrence County.

Miller said he was informed of changes coming from DANC that could lead to heavy fines for trash haulers, both municipal ones and private entities alike. He did not elaborate on specific changes, however.

"The tagging thing will have to be done. "I just think we need to bring the public in and educate them about why this has to be done," McGowan said.

Though some residents complained about their cans being tagged and crews refusing to pickup due to the larger size, Miller said crews will continue to pickup all cans until there is a final resolution to the issue.

Miller said that he and the board were aware of residents' being unhappy with the proposed changes, noting that some went as far to dump garbage in front of the DPW garage, salt storage facility and in front of town hall.

McGowan said he took exception with residents doing that.

"I don't know what's wrong with the world today man but this is crazy," he said.

McGowan said residents have a right to voice their concerns but should know that the cost of the service being provided is lower than any private hauler.

"I spoke to a handful of private haulers and they're 30 bucks, at least. After worker's comp and everything, really if we're doing this right and safely,  we need to stop what we're doing and get a garbage truck that picks up the big ones," McGowan said.

He commented that Cassela Waste have now moved to larger trucks that pick up garbage cans, which allows them to pick up 96 gallon containers.

"They're not in the business of losing money. They didn't go to these trucks because they're losing money, right? It's one man in a truck, no touching. It's a mechanical arm that come out and picks it up, 96 gallons," McGowan said.

But Miller said moving to larger containers like that would mean potentially moving to a bi-weekly pickup schedule, along with periodic checks in between.

"That's what I mean though. For 25 bucks it's a great service, right? Whether people like what they're getting or not, you know, I talk to a few private guys. They're charging 30 bucks. But, in the village it seems like we have a double standard," McGowan said.

He elaborated further, saying that private haulers will inevitably be fined heavily for not following the same standards that DPW crews will follow. He said it's a small price to pay to have a municipal service that is already cheaper.

"You also have got to look at the fact that 25 hours we're picking up your garbage, two bins, bags, yard waste (twice per year). I think village residents really need to know that. Either we get out of the business altogether or we look forward to something safe," McGowan concluded.

Trustee Shelyn Peets said she had done a fair amount of research in recent weeks, "more research into garbage than I really care to do, honestly."

Peets said she did research on worker's compensation, saying everything from a skin puncture due to a needle not being disposed of properly to a back sprain or hernia would be a significant, long term cost to the village taxpayers.

You know, those costs are very high and we need to consider that of course," she said.

Trustees agreed to hold a public hearing during the next board meeting on Aug. 16, beginning at 5:30 p.m.