Borough ponders trash truck ads, number of cans
By Vic Monaco, Managing Editor
HIGHTSTOWN The borough’s in-house trash collection program is on schedule to start in January, with an automated truck to be delivered late this month and residents expected to receive containers around Dec. 10.
As for advertising on trash trucks and providing some extra containers, that’s a can of worms at this point.
Borough Administrator Candace Gallagher gave the Borough Council an update Monday night and explained that each house in town would receive a 95-gallon container unless a 65-gallon container is requested.
She also explained that extra containers per household would result in higher tipping fees for the borough. With that in mind, she suggested an annual fee of $300 for those who request a second one.
”We spend $280,000 a year in tipping fees now,” she said.
Councilman Ryan Rosenberg suggested that Ms. Gallagher look into what other towns do when more than one container is sought, and she said she would do that.
But Councilman Dave Schneider indicated he believes there’s an easier, smarter way to go.
”Is there any reason we can’t just insist upon only one?” he asked, while adding that residents could either wait for the next weekly pickup or pay a private hauler for their extra trash.
Councilwoman Constance Harinxma expressed concern that trash that should be recycled could wind up in the containers. And Mr. Schneider said that backs up his point.
”To provide one more container leaves too many possibilities,” he said.
Local resident and government critic Gene Sarafin agreed, saying that offering extra containers is “totally against the idea of reducing trash.”
After the meeting, Jeff Bond, who was elected to council the next day, pointed out that the automated truck will have a camera that would allow its driver to see what comes out of cans as they are emptied into the truck.
The council and Ms. Gallagher indicated that the council would review its options at a later date.
Meanwhile, the debate continued over whether the borough should seek extra revenue by allowing advertising on two trash trucks.
Borough Attorney Fred Raffetto said the town could either hold an auction or seek sealed bids. While commercial speech is protected by law, he said, the Supreme Court has afforded it “less protection than other constitutionally guaranteed expressions.” And, he added, the borough could specifically ban sexually oriented content and would have the power to reject bids.
Torry Watkins, a resident of Meadow Drive who is the local Democratic chairman, repeated his concern with ads for liquor or others that might be pornographic. Resident J.P. Gibbons took his opposition a step further, offering the borough $1,000 of his own money in lieu of an ad.
”Put ‘Hightstown’ on the back of the truck and keep it clean,” he said, as Mr. Sarafin said he would match the $1,000.
The council seemed to reach a consensus to move ahead with the plan to seek bids.
”It’s way to generate some revenue,” said Councilman Larry Quattrone, who added that large companies such as Comcast and Verizon might be interested.
But issues still to be determined include minimum bids, size of the ads, whether different advertisers could share space on a truck and whether the ads would be painted or magnets.
The borough is returning to in-house collection after a decade of outsourcing. Ms. Gallagher has estimated that the change could save the borough $13,500 a year
The Borough Council in February approved the purchase of the automated truck, known as a one-armed bandit, and containers for $314,726.