By Roger Lanse
At its July 23, 2019 meeting, the Silver City Town Council approved a resolution, authorizing a contract between the town and Universal Waste Systems of California for the collection, transport, and disposal of solid waste and recyclables. Brown told council it has been difficult of late to find qualified CDL drivers and mechanics to keep the town’s vehicles and equipment maintained, and having the company take over the trash collection and transport responsibility, would relieve the town of that burden.
Representatives from the company, together with Town Manager Alex Brown, presented the proposal to council.
Brown stated there would be no change in service or rates to residential customers for at least two years, and the company will meet with commercial customers to determine if alterations to their present pickup schedule is advised.
Brown said the difference between the cost of the new service and what it costs the town to provide the service should result in a savings of about $300,000 per year. Employees of the town’s sanitation department will be offered employment by the company with salaries and benefits comparable to those in the industry, according to Brown.
This would not be selling the service to the company, Brown said, but the town and company will work together, with the town retaining control.
Company representatives stated if this resolution is approved the new service would likely begin in September 2019. Council approved the resolution.
A notice of intent ordinance, sponsored by District 2 Councilor Lynda Aiman-Smith, amending the code of ordinances with respect to smoking, related definitions, and places where smoking may be regulated or not, was approved by council, 3-1, with District 3 Councilor Jose Ray Jr. voting ‘nay.’ Although Ray said he is not a smoker, he objected to prohibiting smoking in open spaces such as trails and Boston Hill. Silver City Fire Chief Milo Lambert expressed concern for the fire danger if smoking were allowed in open spaces.
Ray also noted that another meeting of the SPIN (Supporting People In Need) program is set for the public library from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30. He said this is a “touchy situation” and an important meeting.
Aiman-Smith stated that the District 2 Territorial Charter Day earlier this month at the old waterworks building on Little Walnut Road went well.
District 4 Councilor Guadalupe Cano announced that her district’s Territorial Charter Day event will take place at Gough Park on Aug. 3, at 4 p.m., and will feature a ball game between Silver City’s police and fire departments.
Lambert gave council an update on the town’s fireworks ordinance saying that for July 4th, fireworks may be ignited from June 30 to July 4 between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m., excluding Sunday, except that on July 4th fireworks may be ignited until midnight. On New Year’s, Lambert said, fireworks may be ignited from Dec. 28 -31 between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m., except that on the 31st, fireworks may be ignited until 1 a.m. on Jan. 1.
The director of the Silver City Library Foundation stated that using donated money, the foundation has approved five projects for the library, one of which is a $65,000 solar project, which, according to the director, will come close to eliminating the $7,200 annual electricity bill the library incurs. The agreement between the town and the foundation stipulates the town will reimburse the foundation for the cost of the project to enable the foundation to continue to provide benefits to the library. Council approved the agreement.
Council then approved: an NOI allowing a longer time for termination negotiations regarding outsourcing to a company for waste pickup, two resolutions regarding minor changes in the 2018 and 2019 town budget, and a resolution approving the fourth quarter - FY 2018 financial report.
Mayor Ken Ladner and Mayor Pro-Tem Cynthia Bettison were selected to be voting members to the New Mexico Municipal League Annual Conference.