TMCnet News
In emergency, Banks hires hauler to collect garbageJun 22, 2012 (Standard-Speaker - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Banks Township supervisors took emergency action Thursday to remove household garbage from the streets of Tresckow. Thursday is the regular trash pick-up day in the village, but when all three of the township's part-time workers who hold CDL driver's licenses were unavailable to drive the garbage truck Thursday, the supervisors had to come up with a quick solution. "This is the hottest day of the year. It's hot and it's sticky, and we have to have the garbage picked up to stop the stench and smell. It's sickening," board Chairman Walter Bobowski said as he called a 3 p.m. emergency meeting at the township garage on Cherry Street in Tresckow. In addition to Bobowski, Supervisor Theresa Shott and solicitor Joseph Woitko attended the meeting. Supervisor Rick Porpiglia was not in attendance. Bobowski said he expected part-time township worker Albert Petrole to drive the garbage truck Thursday. But around noon, Bobowski said he received an unexpected visit at his home from former Supervisor Nicholas Petrole who said is son, Albert, would not be available to drive the garbage truck as scheduled. Bobowski said the township's other two part-time workers with CDL licenses previously notified township officials they would not be available to drive the garbage truck Thursday. Trash was collected Wednesday as usual in the Audenried, Coxeville and Junedale sections of the township, Bobowski said. After a review of sunshine law and township code, the solicitor said concern for the health and welfare of Tresckow residents was sufficient reason to call the emergency meeting and take action to hire a commercial trash hauler to collect and dispose of trash. In addition to the stench of garbage festering in the heat at curbsides, Bobowski said the smell of garbage could attract wildlife, such as a bear that had recently been spotted roaming in the vicinity of Maple and Market streets. "If the garbage is out and it's going to stink, where is the bear going to go? To the garbage," Bobowski said. Shott said the situation might also attract mosquitoes, which could put resident at risk of West Nile Virus. "The kids are out of school. Older residents are out walking in the evenings. I feel there's an imminent need to do something about the garbage," Bobowski said, making a recommendation to hire Rizzo Disposal Services of Hazleton for one-day of emergency trash removal. Contacting proprietor Carlo Rizzo by cellphone immediately after Bobowski's motion was unanimously approved by the two supervisors, a price of $1,965 for one day of service was quoted by phone. The board noted in the motion that part-time township employee Jeremy Perchak would assist Rizzo in collecting Tresckow trash, and that any other available part-time township employee could assist for the standard pay of $10 per hour. The solicitor will research the cost of contracting garbage hauling in comparison to the cost of maintaining the township-owned garbage truck and paying part-time township employees to collect garbage. "We are not going to hire a private contractor every time we can't get an employee to pick up the garbage," Bobowski said. "I'm looking to get rid of that garbage truck." [email protected] ___ (c)2012 the Standard-Speaker (Hazleton, Pa.) Visit the Standard-Speaker (Hazleton, Pa.) at standardspeaker.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |