Public hearings set for tonight on budget, water and trash
The Batavia City Council will conduct public hearings tonight on garbage, water and the budget.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Before getting to the public hearings, the council will go into closed session on an unrelated matter (typically, closed sessions are held as the last item on a council agenda).
A public hearing is a chance for voters to share their thoughts and information on matters pending before the council.
The first hearing will be on the proposed 2013-2014 budget, which includes a 16-percent reduction of property taxes due to a plan to remove garbage collection from tax collection and make garbage collection a user-based fee.
The second public hearing is on an increase in the water rate, meter fees and capital improvement fee.
The third public hearing is on a proposed change to the solid waste chapter of the Batavia Municipal Code. The change would require residential property owners to use a new tote system for garbage collection and recycling that would allow for automated collection of garbage.
Prior to the meeting, supporters of Genesee ARC will hold a rally, starting at 6:15 p.m., in front of City Hall, to protest the proposed change to the solid waste law.
The nonprofit agency has collected garbage in the city for nearly 30 years but submitted the highest bid for the new trash collection contract.
ARC Executive Director Donna Saskowski has said the agency will need to lay off eight to 10 people if the agency loses the contract. The garbage collection program employs 30 people, about 20 of whom have disabilities.
Download: As sort of a letter to the editor, reader Dave Huber has submitted a series of questions about ARC and the garbage contract (PDF).