Deputy Mayor Shirley McAlary would like to see changes made to the city’s garbage bylaw to ensure everyone is treated fairly.
McAlary says in some cases it takes city employees an hour to pick up garbage at one property that houses 40 families and the owner pays the same rate as one property owner.
She uses the example of an apartment with 60 units that does not have its garbage picked up from the city, but in some cases townhouses with 80 units do.
McAlary says if the townhouses or condos are individually owned then, of course, its the city’s responsibility to pick up their garbage, but if one individual owns them then they should be paying for their own garbage collection.
She would like to see an individual or company that owns more than 4 units, condos, townhouses or any similar type of housing and rents these properties out to tenants have their garbage picked up by a private commercial company and not by the City of Saint John.
McAlary calls it “a long outstanding issue” that has been going on for the last five or six year.
Councillors Reardon, MacKenzie and Merrithew did not support McAlary’s motion.
City staff will present council with an update to the solid waste bylaw and it will be ready for 1st and 2nd reading in time for council’s next meeting.
