Town to provide rebate to landlords for garbage collection

Sackville landlords who were hit with the news earlier this fall that they'll be paying for their own garbage collection in 2009 will get a bit of financial help from the town to ease the burden on their tenants.
Town council approved a waste management credit system last week that will see apartment owners receive a rebate of nearly $500 per year for each rental property they own.
But the new system didn't come without its stipulations. The landlords must ensure they comply with the town's wet and dry recycling program, no matter which garbage contractor they choose to collect their trash.
"This is what I believe is the fairest option," said Coun. Merrill Fullerton during council's monthly meeting last Monday night.
Fullerton said the landlords affected by the recent changes to the garbage collection contract are only those with buildings greater than four units.
The credit system will reimburse the cost to these landlords for up to four units, based on the town's per unit rate of $122.53.
"This way, we're not playing favourites and it will allow for a level playing field," he said.
"And it will still allow us to control the costs of the garbage contract."
Changes to the town's garbage contract - which come into effect in Jan. 2009 - were enacted last month by members of council, who said they wanted to ensure greater control over contract costs, a more competitive bidding process, and improved service.
With the uncertainty over fuel prices, the length of the contract was reduced from five years to three. To make the tendering process more competitive, the contractor is no longer required to operate a transfer station in town. The costs were also expected to be reduced by removing apartment buildings greater than four units from the contract.
Fullerton said council and staff reviewed several options after meeting with apartment owners last month. In fact, the idea for a credit system came from one of the landlords, he said.
If all apartment owners apply for the rebate, the credit system will cost the town approximately $19,000 per year. This contrasts with the $30,000-per-year costs the town has been paying for the past five years and next year's projected figure of about $60,000.
Coun. John Higham said council has given this issue a great deal of thought and admitted he is still sympathetic towards the tenants who will be faced with rent increases.
But he said he's pleased that this credit system does provide an incentive for landlords to continue with the wet and dry program at their apartments.
Coun. Bruce Phinney, a renter himself, said he has concerns that this new credit system still doesn't provide assurances that landlords won't download the costs onto their tenants.
"I didn't hear from anyone that they wouldn't be raising the rent," he said.
Coun. Mike Tower agreed, noting he is worried these changes will have the most impact on apartment-dwellers in the community.
"I think we're hitting the citizens of the town here, not the landlords."