GARBAGE DISCUSSED — On Monday, Follansbee Council agreed to end the collection of trash from Dumpsters maintained by local businesses and to raise the cost for special bulk trash collections by city crews from residents. -- Warren Scott

FOLLANSBEE — In an effort to reduce a deficit for the city’s sanitation department, Follansbee Council has agreed to end the collection of trash from Dumpsters maintained by local businesses and to raise the cost for special bulk trash collections from residents.

On Monday, council agreed to notify local businesses that in the not distant future, the city won’t collect trash from their Dumpsters.

Council earlier considered hiring a private hauler to do that but has since decided to provide the businesses with contacts for haulers they may choose from.

Council also agreed to raise the cost for city crews to collect bulky items from residents to $75 for material requiring a pickup truck and $150 for those requiring a dump truck.

First Ward Councilman Anthony D’Ulisse questioned what constitutes a special pickup, noting residents have placed larger items out for their regular trash pickups.

It was noted that can result in damages to the city’s garbage truck.

City Manager Chris Manack-Stover said she will draw up potential guidelines for residents for council to consider at its next regular meeting on Nov. 3.

The measures have been considered for several months as a way to cut costs and reduce a loss at which the sanitation department is operating.

Fourth Ward Councilman Rudy Cipriani said in the first three months of the current fiscal year, the sanitation department “lost $47,000.”

“We have no way of knowing (from) what we take to the landfill, what’s garbage and what’s appliances,” he said.

On Monday, council heard from a resident and local business owner, Vito “Skip” Cutrone, who suggested the city take a step further.

Cutrone noted other municipalities in the Northern Panhandle have privatized their garbage collections, hiring a private hauler to collect all trash.

Cutrone said the move would eliminate the need for city to maintain its own garbage truck and allow for its sanitation workers to be used for other tasks.

When such a move is considered, officials often note doing so will eliminate their ability to set the rates paid by their constituents.

Cutrone said he would be willing to pay more for the service if it benefited the city.

No action was taken on Cutrone’s suggestion on Monday.

The discussion comes while the city is conducting its annual fall cleanup, during which residents may leave out bulky items for pickup on their regular garbage days through Friday.

Paint that has been dried by adding sand or cat litter will be accepted, while construction materials, tires, car batteries, wet paint and oils won’t be accepted.

In other business, 5th Ward Councilman Joe Kafton suggested council consider hiring a seventh police officer.

He said overtime for the city’s police department has been averaging $9,000 per month while the cost for another officer, including benefits, would be about $100,000.

Deputy Police Chief Lester Skinner also expressed concern that some of its current officers may leave in the months ahead.

He said the starting hourly wage for an officer who is certified, meaning he or she has undergone the required state training, is $24.50.

Skinner said it can take time to hire a police officer because of the background check, psychological evaluation and other conditions that must be met for an applicant for the position.

For that reason, he suggested advertising now to create a pool of potential candidates.

But Mayor Scott McMahon said council needs to look at whether there’s sufficient funds in the budget, taking into account other expenses, and should consider what issues, including wages and hours, are leading the city’s officers to consider leaving.

Following the meeting, Skinner said some are weighing higher wages offered by other law enforcement agencies and employers in the private sector.

Council also:

• Approved building permits submitted by Murphy Construction for a 75 by 100 foot steel building to be built for commercial use on the former coke plant parking lot now owned by the business, and another submitted by Wheeling-Nippon Steel for an upgrade to the steel mill’s utility system said to decrease emissions and improve fuel efficiency.

• Approved the renewal of a contract for Joe Edmiston, an independent grant writer, for $9,500, as paid in recent years.

• Approved an ordinance establishing a code enforcement officer to investigate complaints of properties with overgrown grass, bulky and loose trash and other conditions deemed health hazards.

There had been debate over whether the individual should be able to patrol the city for violations.

But McMahon said the official should only respond to formal complaints to avoid accusations that residents are being targeted by the city.

Plans have been made for the police department and the city manager to work together in responding to such complaints from residents.

Council’s next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 3 at the City Building.