Finance Committee Chairman Michael Fenton believes most homeowners accept the fee's extension; Councilor James Ferrera suggested residents call councilors before the vote.
While Springfield City Councilor James Ferrera, left, wants residents to call councilors and tell them how they feel about the an extension of the annual trash fee, City Councilor Michael Fenton believes most homeowners accept it.SPRINGFIELD – City Council Finance Committee Chairman Michael A. Fenton said Friday he believes homeowners, for the most part, have to come to accept the annual trash fee and have tired of the debate on if it should be extended past June 30.
A colleague, Councilor James J. Ferrera III, however, said Friday he encourages residents to call their councilors in coming days and let them know how they feel.
The councilors gave their thoughts in the aftermath of a trash fee hearing Thursday night at Central High School when just nine residents showed up.
The council will consider a final vote to extend the trash fee at its next meeting May 16. On April 25, the council voted 8-5 to give first-step approval to the extension.
“No one likes paying the fee, but I think they understand,” Fenton said. “People are sick of talking about the trash fee and they like the system they have.”
Just two people at the hearing said they flatly oppose paying any fee, Fenton said.
Fenton is among councilors saying the fee and its estimated revenue of more than $3 million are critically needed for a city facing increased expenses and reduced state aid.
He expects the council’s support of the fee last month will not change on May 16.
Ferrera said he has opposed the fee from the beginning, believing it is an unfair burden on homeowners.
“The city is overtaxed, residents are overtaxed,” Ferrera said. “You can’t keep going into our residents’ pockets to run government. We have to tighten our belts and find ways to cut spending.”
Both Fenton and Ferrera said the residents at Thursday’s meeting all opposed a proposal to replace the trash fee with a different system in which residents would buy city-issued plastic bags for trash.
The residents generally said they believe the bag system would increase their out-of-pocket costs, beyond an annual fee of $75, Ferrera said.
WasteZero, proposing the bag system, said the city would save money through increased recycling, and many homeowners would save money by paying only for the amount of trash they generate rather than a flat fee.
Councilor Timothy C. Allen also attended the hearing.
The trash fee was initially created in Springfield by the former, state-imposed Finance Control Board in 2007, at a rate of $90, drawing criticism from many homeowners.
The fee, at its current rate of $75, was scheduled to expire June 30.
The new ordinance, now proposed, includes a $25 discount for qualifying senior citizens, veterans, blind and indigent homeowners, and allows the city to attach liens on properties in cases of prolonged nonpayment.