$150 fee for trash gets final approval; Mayor acknowledges voter `hostility'.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Date: 05 September 2007

Byline: Danielle M. Williamson

GARDNER - The City Council last night gave final approval to a much-discussed trash ordinance that will establish fees for curbside pickup and disposal, and impose greater penalties for violations.

In his third presentation to the council since May, Mayor Gerald E. St. Hilaire said charging a $150 yearly fee for curbside pickup and increasing the price of city trash bags from $1 to $3.50 are the only viable ways to fill a roughly $1.5 million funding gap caused by the landfill's closing.

Bags have been sold for the higher price since mid-August.

The yearly fee will be split into four billing cycles, and will show up on residents' quarterly water and sewer bills next month.

"This is a logical, well-thought-out program to deal with a situation," said the mayor, acknowledging his frustration with the number of complaints and the amount of...