GLOVERSVILLE – Mayor Dayton King has announced he will veto a measure changing the city’s garbage ordinance after hearing public complaints about the changes.
The new garbage disposal ordinance approved by the city council in May requires residents to put garbage in bags, which must be placed in pails no larger than 48 gallons. No more than eight trash cans per property are allowed.
King announced during Tuesday’s Common Council meeting he will veto the ordinance, which is scheduled to take effect Aug. 1.
The council has 60 days to bring the matter back to a vote and needs five yes votes to override the veto.
The measure was approved by a 5-2 vote May 24, with 6th Ward Councilman Wrandy Siarkowski and 5th Ward Councilman Jay Zarrelli both voting against the measure.
King initially said he would not veto the measure, but said he made the decision to veto it after hearing public comments.
“I don’t know if I’ve had more complaints about an issue,” King said.
He said he had spoken with the council members before the meeting to inform them of his decision.
Under the law, owners of properties will be responsible for fines for violations. Failure to place a bag in a trash can is considered a violation.
A notice of $50 fines will be posted on or near the front door of the buildings in violation, with an additional copy mailed to the owners.
Third Ward Councilman Vincent DeSantis said the measure would come back up before the council for an override vote.
“I think that we will probably bring it back up within the 60 days to see what happens,” DeSantis said. “I think that you have to go through that process. We did get five votes originally.”
DeSantis said the council would likely make no changes to the ordinance, since it was the result of a lot of work between the city blight committee and other officials.
“That was the result of a lot of discussion between department heads and the group we call the blight committee, so we’ll give it another try,” DeSantis said.
King said his decision was shaped in part by what he was told by department heads in the city about the ordinance. He said department heads told him the measure would require more staff in order to get the garbage picked up on time.
“I feel this is an unfunded mandate, and it’s really unnecessary,” King said. “It’s going to increase the taxes in our city, and we’re already the highest-taxed city in the Mohawk Valley.”
Councilman-at-Large James Robinson said he would consider changing his yes vote.
“It’s definitely something I will rethink. The mayor made a point to me to have an open mind and see what’s best for the citizens,” Robinson said.
King said if his veto is overridden, he will accept the measure. He said he would like to see the city move to a system that would have buildings with four or more units pay for their own trash collection.
“If it does come back with five yes votes, we will move forward,” King said.
Kerry Minor covers Gloversville. She can be reached at [email protected].
