By Frank Mustac, Special Writer
Hopewell Township leaders are discussing whether to reinstate a bulky waste pickup program.
The pickups were stopped in the aftermath of a fire in March 2015 that damaged the Department of Public Works building and more than 20 DPW vehicles parked inside the building’s garage.
The blaze at the building at 203 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road started when a dump truck parked inside the garage caught fire and completely destroyed the truck. Heat and soot from the blaze compromised the remaining 23 vehicles stored in that section of the garage, rendering them unsafe for use.
The fire compromised all vehicles necessary to administer the bulky waste program.
“There have been a lot of questions from residents about whether we are providing bulky waste and how we are providing that,” Deputy Mayor Vanessa Sandom said at the May 9 Township Committee meeting. “But there is a cost to doing that and there is a significant cost this year because we do not have a truck to pick up bulky waste.”
Township Committeeman John Hart said he also gets “a lot of feedback about bulky waste.”
“People tell me they pay a lot of money in taxes and ask why we have not reinstated it yet. I tell them to be patient, and when we get some money to get a truck, we will,” Mr. Hart said. “Time is of the essence, I think. I’ve been wanting to get this done for quite a while.”
“We have been doing it since I have been around and residents expect it,” he said. “They think that it’s part of their taxes.”
Committeewoman Julie Blake suggested having a discussion on creating location where residents can drop off bulky waste.
“We did one have years ago,” Mr. Hart said. “We did have a Dumpster out there, I believe behind public works. People brought their stuff there and then it was hauled out of there.”
Ms. Sandom suggested surveying residents on whether they feel that bulky waste pickup is a service “they must have or would like to have and how much it might cost.”
“When they realize how much it might cost, then maybe decide otherwise and go with private companies,” she said.
Ms. Sandom requested that Township Committee first “tackle” the bulky waste issue with an online survey.
She suggested Hopewell Township use a software tool like one called Budget Allocator (budgetallocator.com) — a commercially available online participatory budgeting program designed to involve citizens in creating community budgets.
“I would like the Township Committee at some point to consider whether we should look into this (software) program and how we can actually use it. Personally I think getting feedback from residents in a fairly formal manner makes sense when we are talking about budget issues,” Ms. Sandom said. “I think it makes sense to do this.”
Mayor Kevin Kuchinski responded to the request.
“I think Deputy Mayor Sandom is saying to look at this more holistically versus just responding to the issue of bulky waste pickup,” the mayor said. “Anytime you can get more feedback from citizens and residents makes sense.”
Mayor Kuchinski also said he had asked Township Administrator Paul Pogorzelski to prepare other options that could implemented regarding bulky waste pickup. He asked for it in time for the Township Committee on June 6.
