Councilor Michael Fenton said he and other councilors plan to propose a new ordinance that would keep the trash fee in effect.
SPRINGFIELD - Some city councilors said last week they are convinced that a trash fee is needed to prevent severe budget cuts and will attempt to resurrect the issue in April.
At a meeting last week, the trash fee was debated among councilors, and a recommendation to keep the fee in effect for next fiscal year failed in a 2-2 vote before two council committees.
The annual trash fee, currently $75, is scheduled to expire on June 30.
Councilor Michael A. Fenton, among those wanting the fee restored, said he plans to bring the matter before the full council at its next regular meeting, Monday.
“It’s a revenue source we can’t afford to lose,” Fenton said.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno has proposed replacing the current fee with a graduated bin system, in which homeowners would be charged based on the size of their bin.
Fenton and other councilors said that system should be explored further, but that the current fee should remain in effect in the meantime.
At last week’s meeting, Fenton and Councilor Kateri B. Walsh voted in favor of the current fee continuing, while Councilors Timothy J. Rooke and John A. Lysak were opposed.
Lee Erdmann, the city’s chief administrative and financial officer, said the administration is urging a vote by April 4.
The loss of the trash fee, which has generated more than $3 million annually, would require budget cuts for a balanced budget, Erdmann said.
The cuts “won’t be pretty,” he said.
Rooke has supported a “pay-as-you-throw” system in which homeowners would buy city-issued paper bags, that could be placed inside existing bins.
Lysak has raised concerns that the trash fee has been a hardship on residents.
Allan R. Chwalek, the city’s director of public works, said a pay-as-you-throw, bag purchase system discussed with WasteZero has promised savings, but the city has obtained nothing in writing.
He said his department is “dead” if forced to absorb additional budget cuts.
The trash fee was imposed by the former Finance Control Board in 2007, and a proposed extension of the fee in December failed to win council support.
Fenton said he and other councilors plan to propose a new ordinance that would keep the trash fee in effect.