Council pilots downtown garbage plan and advances veterans banner program amid public debate

Council and staff described a short pilot to reduce street trash and a proposed program to display veterans’ banners on downtown poles; both items drew council debate and public comment.

Garbage pilot: Borough public works staff said they would remove about two‑thirds of public trash cans from streets in the Business Improvement District, leave strategically placed cans near restaurants, run a 2–3 week pilot and send letters to property owners reminding them of garbage rules. Staff also said they would increase DPW pickup frequency and use Clean Communities funds for outreach. "Garbage cans come off the street next week, and letters are going out next week," staff said. Council members and the public discussed whether dumpsters behind businesses are feasible given limited parking and private property constraints.

Veterans banner program: Council reviewed a third‑party banner program to recognize active service members and veterans on roughly 61 black downtown poles. Staff proposed tiers (gold star/deceased, active residents, family of residents), possible borough support for banners honoring borough residents killed in action, and a suggested resident fee of about $90 while the production cost quoted to the borough was $69. The clerk and council discussed verification (DD‑214s) and whether to allow nonresident veterans with local family ties. Public commenters raised concerns about equity—one speaker said charging $90 to hang a late parent’s banner would "insult" families who cannot afford the fee—and recommended an alternative such as a permanent plaque listing all veterans.

Next steps: Staff will draft an application and pricing tiers for the banner program, consider whether the borough should absorb costs for gold‑star banners, and return with more detailed options. The DPW pilot will proceed and be reassessed after the 2–3 week trial; if ineffective, an ordinance or fines could be considered.