Village Adds To Waste Laws For Enforcement

The Village of Clinton modified its regulations for collection of solid waste to allow stronger enforcement.

At last week’s Village Board meeting a public hearing on the changes opened the evening.

No one from the public came to comment.

Prior to the changes, the regulations were not specific enough to follow up when someone abused the system of putting out trash, garbage and green waste.

Clinton Mayor Elizabeth Tantillo said the modifications give the Village some teeth in providing enforcement.

Trustee Thomas Firsching said in June a landlord put out on Utica Street what looked like an entire house cleaned out.

Tantillo said it took the Village’s Department of Public Works two truckloads to remove it all.

Board members discussed how to measure what is allowed and what is not, without hampering items put out, like long sofas or a washer.

Village attorney William Schmitt said the version in front of the Board was the seventh draft of attempting to make the changes needed.

“This is a reaction to a handful of people who wouldn’t abide by the regulations.”

Trustees said some municipalities require residents to buy tags for larger items, but they wanted to avoid that. The changes also allow for fines imposed on people who bring trash from out of the village to dispose of.

Tantillo said someone did that recently on North Avenue and was identified by information in the bag that gave a name and address.

“Abusers know they are abusing our laws,” she said.

Tantillo said people can also put out some of their trash to fall under the regulations, rather than set it out all at once.

The maximum amount is 200 cubic feet with height, width and length flexible. (For those unable to remember the lessons on cubic dimensions from school, the Internet has conversion calculators.)

Also during the two-hour meeting Tantillo said she had looked into the question of a disaster warning system.

Saying it likely needs to be a broader network than Clinton and Kirkland, she contacted Oneida County’s Emergency Management Services Department for discussion.

A culvert that collapsed on Chenango Street and diverted water into St. Mary’s Brook has been fixed with $80,000 of new pipe and a replaced sidewalk where it collapsed.

The Village provided some funding, and the Town of Kirkland did much of the work.

Tantillo said a long-term solution is being considered.

Tantillo said the Finance Committee met, and village funding is in good shape.

After an outside audit next month, the Board will consider allocating unassigned fund balance savings to reserves and other areas.

Consultants will meet with Village officials this week to assess the Village Green Downtown Revitalization Initiative project.

The plan for public bathrooms might be changed.

The proposal has them as part of Lumbard Hall.

The problem there, Tantillo said, is how to secure the Village Hall from entry when it is closed.

The bathrooms would be accessible from ...