Oakland Township Board OKs New Recycling Program, Rejects OPC Budget

The  Tuesday night revolved around two hot topics: the budget and recycling within the township.

Township reviews, amends recycling program

Trustee Kathrine Thomas has been looking into alternatives to the township’s current recycling program for about a year. The township has provided by Waste Management, which are set up every Saturday behind the . Residents are able to visit the bin to recycle their cardboard and other items.

However, Thomas reported there has been a lot of misuse of the bins, costing the township even more money. “The recycle bins have been quite abused,” she said. “We have found carpeting in recycle bins and we get weighed for the recyclables and we have to pay.”

She said there are six trash services that serve Oakland Township residents. Of those six only one does not provide recycling services. So, in the interest of saving the township money, and in response to the misuse of the current recycling program, Thomas made a motion to contract with Waste Management for a revised recycling plan and suggest to residents they utilize their own trash service’s recycling program. Thomas said she found in her research that many of the companies allow people to use their own bins and will pick up the recyclables at no extra charge.

The township's contract with Waste Management would cost more than $20,000 less than the township is spending for recycling. Thomas noted the company would be waiving the fuel and environmental costs and would allow residents access to Eagle Valley Landfill at no cost. The township will be continuning contracts with Waste Management to collect trash at , the on Rochester Road and the .

Though the township would like to phase out the township’s recycling program and leave it in the resident’s hands, there will still be a compactor truck available once a month as opposed to four times a month starting Feb. 1.

“If everyone jumps on board we won’t need to have that,” Thomas said.

The township board voted unanimously in favor of a revised contract with Waste Management. The township will send information about the program to residents in the coming weeks.

Board votes against Rochester’s OPC budget

Though the township board and Rochester Hills City Council had already approved the 2012 budget for the Older Persons' Commission, it was placed back on the agenda Tuesday after Rochester’s City Council declined to pass the budget and instead chose to create an alternate budget for the OPC. The commission is funded by taxpayer dollars from Oakland Township, Rochester and Rochester Hills.

The city of Rochester declined to pass the budget in part because it calls for a 1 percent increase in commission staff member salaries.

John Dalton, a resident of Rochester Hills and an OPC representative, gave a short presentation at the beginning of the meeting, noting there is a reason the OPC has its own governing body – so that it has the freedom to make the changes it sees fit. The commission board is made up of elected resident representatives from each of the funding communities.

“Every year we make budget changes, still ensuring no programs are cut and there is no increase in fees,” Dalton said.

Dalton noted that is not changing this year and identified the need for the pay raise as the fact that for the past three years there has been no elevation in wages due to the poor economy and the commission now finds it appropriate to issue an increase in wages.

Following the presentation there was one public comment noting that Rochester was in the right because it was taking the conservative approach. Still, the board voted unanimously (Trustee Sharon Creps and Clerk Judy Workings were not present) against the newly proposed budget.

“I don’t see any precedent for changing our mind about this,” Trustee Mark Edwards said.

Edwards noted that Rochester’s contributions to OPC is the smallest. He also said he did not see anything wrong with the increase in wages, considering the previously proposed 2012 budget was already less than was proposed in 2011.

Likewise, submitted by Rochester on Monday night.