Below is a Letter to the Editor from this week's Shelton Herald. If you'd like to have a letter to the editor run next week, email letters to brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
Contributed photoTo the Editor:
The Board of Alderman Street Committee, chaired by Second Ward Alderman Eric McPherson, recently met to discuss road repair and other matters. Fourth Ward Alderman Lorenzo Durante and I serve on the committee and were in attendance along with Board of Aldermen President John Anglace, Jr, representing the 3rd Ward.
The Street Committee is also very fortunate to have Shelton Highway and Bridges Superintendent Brian Roach attending each meeting to assist and advise the committee.
The discussion centered on the many trash and recycling pick up complaints that have been made of late.
The Street Committee along with city administrators are delving into the stack of complaints already in hand. A new manager at our present contractor, Oak Ridge Hauling, is on board and will be assisting in making changes to lessen these incidents going forward.
The committee is aware that some of the missed pickups were related to drivers only being able to drive 12 hours a day (safety laws), mandatory COVID leaves, and no quick or easy training method for the routes.
The other most common problems were the carts being blocked by cars parked in the streets or cars blocking turnarounds where drivers have to back the truck out of the streets and cannot complete the pick-ups on the opposite side of the street.
These and other factors as mentioned above are also being addressed with the assistance of new Oak Ridge Hauling and the Highways and Bridges staff. One very serious problem, something all municipalities are experiencing, is that drivers are sometimes held up at the Bridgeport burn plant for three to four hours waiting to empty their trucks which significantly decreases the number of hours they can be actively picking up trash and recycling. This situation is also currently being studied as it impacts the efficiency of the program.
While there is an ongoing commitment and plan to improve service a Trash and Recycling Guideline has been prepared and will be sent to all households in their 2022-23 tax statements due out later in June.
Some quick reminders to assist with trash & recycle pick up are listed below:
* Please do not park your cars in the streets or in turn a rounds on trash and recycle pick-up days. (Trucks have video cameras)
* Know your trash/recycle schedule (weekly trash pick up and every other week recycle pick up). Brown carts for trash, blue carts for recycling. No plastic trash bags or liners are allowed in the recycling carts.
* Trash carts must be closed. Please do not overload them
* Place them at the curb at least 3 feet from any object including another cart
If trash or recycling is not picked up on your normally scheduled day call the Highway Department Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at 203-924-9277; City Hall Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at 203-924-1555 Ext. 1370; or, after hours, Oak Ridge Hauling at 203-929-5488.
Thank you to everyone for your patience, cooperation and assistance as this issue I being addressed.
Anthony F. Simonetti
First Ward Alderman