Facing significant resistance to a bill that would have split Mansfield into five trash collection zones, with each having its own pickup day, council has effectively killed the measure. Although it was scheduled to be considered at least two more times, with a final vote on April 20, the bill was moved up for a final vote and unanimously voted down.
At least 47 emails were submitted for public comment, all opposing the proposal. That’s not including an untold number of phone calls and emails that each council member received. “It was a lot,” said Cheryl Meier, councilwoman of the second ward.
David Falquette, president of council, declined to read them. “I really appreciate every single citizen that took the time to write, to call, to email but just to hear the same story 47 plus times I don’t think is a benefit to the council,” he said.
Falquette and Jason Lawrence, councilman of the fifth ward, were the bill’s main backers. Two weeks ago, they argued that creating collection zones would reduce the amount of trash that sits on curbs and allow the codes and permits to cite residents that flout city law by leaving refuse or containers on a curb for more than 24 hours.