Modern debate fills Town Hall

by Sarah Tanbakuchi
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, June 30, 2007

There were hardly enough seats to accommodate the residents who attended Monday night’s public hearing on the possibility of amending the town’s Waste Disposal and Landfill Law. More than 20 people voiced differing opinions regarding Modern Corporation’s efforts to increase the tonnage of waste brought into the landfill.

Gary Smith, the chief operating officer at Modern, began the hearing with a short presentation on the proposed changes. According to the current Host Community Agreement, as of Jan. 1, Modern was allowed to collect a fee of $35 per household per year from the Town of Lewiston for waste pickup and disposal. The company approached the Town Board and began a discussion in regards to dealing with the cost.

Smith proposed an amendment to town law that would allow Modern to bring in an additional 250,000 tons of waste per year. In exchange, Modern would amend the Host Community Agreement to defer the collection of pickup and disposal charges from the town until 2011.

Smith said that the ability to increase the tonnage of annual transport would allow the company to fill the landfill sooner, not increase the total tonnage of waste brought into the area.

“It’s like a gallon jug of water,” Smith said. “We’re asking to fill it sooner, not to make more.”

The increased tonnage would result in a 25 percent increase in truck traffic, resulting in an additional three to five truck trips per hour, according to Smith.

Primary Concerns

Keith Fox of Ridge Road summed up many residents’ concerns regarding the proposed amendment when he said, “We have a big truck problem.”

Residents voiced displeasure over the noise the trucks created, especially in the early morning hours, and the residue from diesel fuel that covered the houses along truck routes. Truck traffic safety, in regards to the speed and number of trucks that travel along truck routes, was also a frequent issue.

Residents were also concerned about the real estate market along truck routes. Earl Winker of Ridge Road said he had yet to receive an offer on his house that has been on the market for six months.

Chuck Longo, a real estate broker and resident of Woodland Drive, said the number one question he is asked by those from out of town is “How far away is the dump?” He said that something must be done to increase the quality of life for those living along the truck routes.

Amy Witryol said she was concerned that the proposed amendment to the town law would eliminate public input into future tonnage increases. The new law would allow tonnage requirements to be altered by agreements reached between the Town Board and Modern, without public notification or a hearing.

During the Town Board meeting, Lewiston Town Attorney Joseph L. Leone Jr. said that the language of the proposed amendment, lacking a defined tonnage, was open-ended.

Residents whom spoke against the proposed amendment comprised a passionate group.

“I feel our whole area has been prostituted to a very large company who does not give one damn bit about what we are living with,” said Patricia Schultz of Ridge Road.

However, residents at the public hearing also acknowledged the key role Modern plays in the community, funding Artpark and the Recreation Department.

Repeatedly cited as a good corporate citizen, Modern was also commended by residents for the employment opportunities and economic growth it supplied to the area. In order to keep business in the area, some residents said that Modern must be allowed to expand as costs of conducting business also increase.

“I would never whisper an objection to anything that brings money and employment to our community,” said Alexa Stopaweiz of Ridge Road. “Can any of us argue that we do not need to create and covet employment opportunities in Western New York?”

A few residents also said that people living along Ridge Road, for example, knew they were moving along established truck routes and should therefore have anticipated the noise and traffic associated with these locations.

Furthermore, as Smith notes, Modern trucks are not the only trucks that travel these routes and contribute to the noise and traffic.

“We could stop tomorrow and they [the residents] would still have all the issues that they have today,” he said.

Eleven people spoke in favor of Modern and the amendment.

Supervisor Fred Newlin said he remains opposed to the proposed amendment to the Waste Disposal and Landfill Law. The town does have enough money to pay Modern Landfill the $175,000 total cost (acquired from the $35 per household per year cost) for waste pickup and disposal for 2007.

The Town Board did not vote on the proposed amendment on Monday evening. Councilman Michael Johnson said they will take the public’s comments into consideration and continue a dialog with Modern.

Newlin provided a New York Power Authority re-licensing update. As a result of the approved sale of 6.5 megawatts of hydroelectric power to Lewiston, residents can expect to see a reduction in the cost of their electric bills in October.

However, Newlin is concerned that the decrease in the price of power is going to result in an inefficient increase in the consumption of electricity. He is researching incentives that the town could offer Lewiston residents to encourage power conservation.