BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

Story updated 2/15/24 at 4:55 p.m.

MASSENA --Massena village trustees are making major changes to spring cleanup.

At a Feb. 13 meeting trustees announced that curbside pickup will not be implemented and residents will now only receive one voucher for one trip to dump refuse at the transfer station.

On top of those changes, the “spring” cleanup will now take place in August as opposed to April like in years past. 

Though some may be disappointed with the change, it's all for a good cause, officials say.

Department of Public Works Superintendent Marty Miller told trustees the change will allow the department to continue to offer the service to village residents while cutting down on costs.

"What we've come up with was, it would go from spring cleanup and the dates would be August 19 through the 31st," Miller said.

Miller said the hours of operation will follow the current St. Lawrence County Solid Waste schedule for the two week period. The transfer station will be open Monday through Wednesday and Friday for normal hours, as well as on Saturdays until noon, he said.

Changes to vouchers are also planned, he said.

"The village would change the two trips per voucher to one trip. The village would not mail out vouchers, they will be picked up at the DPW building during the month of July between the hours of 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm. You will have to show a proof of residency, a recent utility bill for example. As always no commercial properties will receive vouchers and residents who do not pay for our refuse service will not get a voucher," Miller said.

The County Transfer Station will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., according to Account Clerk Nikki Debien.

Staffing was also addressed, a concern that previously cost the village significant sums of money, Miller said.

"The village will only have one to two employees stationed at the transfer station during the two week period. I wanted to have one but I met with the county this week and we have some differing opinions on that. Before, the village had a whole crew up there, which I didn't think was a necessity," he said.

Restrictions on what can be dumped would also be tweaked as well, with no tires allowed and no more than two mattresses or box springs allowed per voucher.

Miller also said once a voucher is picked up the department would not reprint one in the event it is lost or damaged.

Mayor Greg Paquin acknowledged that some residents would be disappointed with the lack of curbside pickup service, as had been offered years prior.

"I know there's going to be disappointment that we can't do the curbside pickup but a big part of that problem is the cost of getting charged for refuse tonnage from St. Lawrence County," he said.

According to Miller, the cost per ton for non-compacted garbage is up to $141 currently.

"When we entered into that flow agreement with DANC (Development Authority of the North Country) when I was a St Lawrence county legislator, we were told that by doing that, by making sure that everyone goes to that landfill, prices would go down. They aren't going to go down," Paquin said.

Paquin also took a jab at the county, saying it was possible additional fees were also being charged for the service.

"On top of that, I think there's some other costs being thrown in there by the county that we shouldn't be paying for that I suspect we are. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, but I don't think I am," he said.

When discussing the county's role in refuse, Miller said he also suggested holding a hazardous waste disposal day in Massena "so everyone doesn't have to drive to Canton."

Miller said he would follow up with them on the idea again in future conversations.  

Paquin said it's difficult for the village to continue to offer services as they had in years prior, saying financially some services simply aren't an option.

Trustee Ken McGowan also suggested reaching out to the local township individuals may live in, saying in some cases there may be another option to dispose of such waste.

In the case of Massena, members of the village also comprise portions of three townships, he said.

"I know the town of Louisville (allows it) because I live in the town of Louisville and the village. I know I'm allowed to bring my stuff right out there (in Louisville) and they take care of it. I don't understand why a member of the town, someone that's a resident that lives within the village, wouldn't have the same opportunity to participate in a town program. They pay town taxes, so if you live in the town of Massena and the village of Massena, why would you be excluded from that (town program). I have no idea," Paquin said.

Village officials have been coordinating with the town of Louisville and town of Massena to ensure spring cleanups did not overlap, officials say.

McGowan said he was at the most recent meeting, saying town officials were happy with the village's decision to move to August.

The switch to August for village residents may also benefit those who travel south, according to Village Administrator Monique Chatland.

"We've seen a lot of people that travel south and we used to miss them or their voucher would get forwarded to their address in transit. So I think this will help with that as well," she said.

"It also gives folks time to sort through what they want to get rid of because we've all done it and realized we forgot things because we felt rushed," McGowan said.

Spring cleanup will now run from Aug. 19-31 for village of Massena residents.