Imagine a Cobleskill where trash lines the streets.
Rats scurry from pile to pile of ripped-open garbage bags and the smell’s enough to knock you over; out-of-town shoppers complain, and need a broken TV? A busted microwave? Used cat litter? It’s all there.
That’s the picture of Cobleskill more than a dozen speakers painted last Tuesday when the village held a hearing on its updated trash law.
Trustees rewrote the law after issues arose in the spring over who—and what—was supposedly covered by what had long been an informal arrangement.
But most of Tuesday’s speakers trashed the contract with Vet’s Disposal, low bidder at $170,660 for the eight-month contract after it was re-bid in the fall.
Susan Mallery, and her father, Roger Mallery, who both own buildings on Main Street , said because of the new restrictions, people are leaving their garbage on their corner.
Both also criticized the fact—as did others—that Vet’s is not picking up business garbage.
“I think it’s a question of priorities,” Mr. Mallery said. “You’ve got two guys watering the flowers along Main Street . There’s no reason the amount of garbage we make can’t be picked up. We’re not orphans. We’re entitled to this service.”
Bill Lancaster said he has the same problem at his building on Division Street: Other people leaving their trash there.
Michael Consalvo, who owns a business and four apartments on Main Street, asked why his trash sat there for eight days; like others, he asked where his taxes are going.
Dave Jones , with a business and four apartments on Park Place, said paying for commercial garbage pick-up is going to force people like him out of the village.
“I’m probably going to search for rental space outside the village,” he said.
“You just paid for a study to attract business, but you’re raising and water and sewer rates, and now this. Where’s the mayor? He assured me on the street this wouldn’t be a problem.”
Mayor Mike Sellers was absent from Tuesday’s hearing and none of the three trustees there—Sandy MacKay , Carol McGuire , or Mark Galasso —could answer that question. Trustee Rebecca Thillet was also absent with a broken arm and surgery.
Debbie Yoder, who lives on Park Place, complained that she watched garbage men open and inspect her garbage bags with miner’s headlamps and then leave it all behind because it wasn’t in clear bags.
Julie Keller, who walks all over the village, said the odors from the garbage left behind and just dumped is staggering.
“I ashamed when anyone comes into our village,” she said. “It smells awful and it looks awful.”
Jack Daley, who works at CatNap Books, said over the weekend, three customers remarked on how dirty the village was.
“It looked better when the village was picking up everything,” added Robert Devanney.
Former Mayor Bill Gilmore, who’s running for Ms. Thillet’s seat on the village board, said when he was mayor, Vet’s had the contract for about a week—till he got rid of them because of similar problems.
“For years we had a workable solution,” he said. “When PEC was larger, we had enforcement.”
Mr. Galasso explained that all the problems began when the village’s contract with its previous hauler—Sunset--expired and low-bidder Vet’s started enforcing the existing law.
“The costs migrated out of control,” Mr. Galasso said. “And there’s a reason why you don’t pick up commercial…it would break the bank.”
“You’re not hearing us,” said Ms. Mallery. “We’re saying we’re not happy with the [proposed] law. “We will pay extra for mom and pop waste…one or two bags.”
Mr. MacKay said he agreed all of the issues raised were valid and need to be addressed, but the revised law needs to be put in place first.
“There’s no question we have to re-visit this,” he said.
One way to do that might be with a garbage district, said Ms. McGuire.
Another possibility would be for the village to go back to picking up its own garbage, she said.
“It’s a real quality of life issue,” Ms. McGuire said. “It’s disgusting.”
Mr. Galasso and Mr. MacKay both voted in favor of the new law; Ms. McGuire abstained.