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).
Nice letter Mr. Huber. By the
Nice letter Mr. Huber. By the way, anyone know how much Ms. Saskowski makes as the head of the not for profit?
There is one and only one
There is one and only one answer to the garbage situation: a true pay per bag system. Totes are not required for that solution to be implemented. It would be very interesting to see what ARC would charge for such a system without being strong-armed to re-engineer their business to accommodate totes.
John- "By the way, anyone
John- "By the way, anyone know how much Ms. Saskowski makes as the head of the not for profit?"
I didn't think you would sink so low to make an insinuation as that.
Ted, ARC supporters, on their
Ted,
ARC supporters, on their site, have tried to have you think Rose Mary Christian has an interest in Allied and that Jason has been gotten something for this or is only proposing this to enhance his resume for another job.
Maybe your right and it is not fair to ask what her pay is, but ARC supporters have resorted it innuendo, and that can not be tolerated. I will delete my question.
No edit option left.
Is this meeting going to be
Is this meeting going to be televised?
They usualy are.
They usualy are.
Asking what her salary is
Asking what her salary is seems like a perfectly legitimate question to me. Anecdotally, WXXI is in the midst of their semi-annual fund drive. "We need your financial support. It's up to you to keep these important programs on the air. Won't you please help us." While there is some truth in all that altruism they preach most people are unaware the CEO makes about $400K a year and among his perks is a new SUV annually.
What's wrong with full disclosure in the case of the ARC? Their proponents are asking for preferential treatment along the same lines as the local PBS affiliate so why not put ALL the facts on the table.
What channel would the
What channel would the meeting be on?
Nice of everyone to rip on a
Nice of everyone to rip on a company you all obviously know nothing about or a field of business you know nothing about. Mr Huber's letter to the editor is foolishness at best. Many years ago foolishness like that kept "disabled" individuals locked in those places called West Seneca Development Center, Letchworth Development Center, and Willowbrook Development Center. Not knowing your facts leads to ignorance.
Simply if you want to know what the executive director of ARC makes look it up. Info is out there.
The employees of the ARC are NOT state employees and to do NOT have state pensions.
Agencies like the ARC (look the names up there are several in the western NY area) work hard to provide care and services to those who need it most on very frugal budgets. I challenge you all to find a company who makes the most the money provided in their budgets.
Lastly don't argue through Ignorance, find out the facts. The questions asked in Mr Hubers letter to the editor are all simular to the scare tactics used when "group homes" were first openning years ago. everyone was scared and letters like this kept everyone scared (ignorance to the facts). Years later group homes are accepted in neighborhoods all across the state.
Mr Hubers letter totally
Mr Hubers letter totally disgusts me and I really hope that this ignorance is not the norm in our society today.