Oct 16, 2002 By Jackie Beranek 3 min read

VANDERBILT – A local garbage hauler Tuesday addressed questions from the borough council about a rise in the monthly rate he charges customers. William Piccolomini, owner of Fayette Waste of Waltersburg, said that since the state imposed a $4-per-ton fee on all solid waste disposed in a landfill and a $100 fee per truck used to collect and dispose garbage at landfills, he had to raise his garbage collection price from $7 a month to $8 a month.

The state law permits the landfill owner to pass the tipping fee on to residential customers.

On questioning from Councilman Joseph Ambrose, Piccolomini said Fayette Waste has about 200 customers in Vanderbilt and collects about six tons a week (24 tons a month) from the borough.

And while residents are allowed to put out four bags a week for collection, “most residents put out more than four bags a week. They take advantage of the number because they don’t recycle,” Piccolomini said.

He reminded the council that he has the right to raise the garbage bill under the contract.

“The landfill raised our rate by $4 more a ton,” said Piccolomini. “We only received a seven-day notice from the state that our tipping fees were going up. For every $1 increase at the landfill, we are allowed to charge residents 25 cents. A $4 increase at the landfill adds up to a $1 increase for you.”

Ambrose said he had wished that Piccolomini had gotten in touch with the council before adding the extra $1 onto residents’ bills. Piccolomini said he talked with someone from the council and thought that the matter had been taken care of. “I feel we provide a far better service than the last company you had,” said Piccolomini. “We do our best, and we’re always on time.”

Ambrose and Councilwoman Betty Keffer told Piccolomini that his company is doing a “fine job” in the borough and that they want to talk to him again but with solicitor Michael Macko present.

In a related matter, Ambrose publicly criticized Macko for not being at the meeting.

“We don’t have any clue what Mr. Macko’s doing. I talked to him and told him that we need his legal advice down here, but to my knowledge he hasn’t done anything that we’ve asked him to do,” Ambrose said

He suggested that secretary Mary Jane Winterhalter send a letter to Macko. Winterhalter said she sent him a letter before Tuesday’s meeting, asking him to attend, but never heard from him.

Council also conducted the following business:

– Set trick-or-treat for Oct. 26, from noon to 2 p.m.

– Reminded residents that burning days are Wednesday and Saturday only, from dawn to dusk. Residents also were reminded not to let their fires smolder after dark.

– Agreed to pay $5,000 for a dilapidated building owned by Samuel Edward Nudo of Dawson. The borough agreed to buy the building, located on the corner of Walnut and Main streets, raze it and use the property to beautify the town. The money to buy the house would come from the $1 million Miller Trust Fund.

– Agreed to talk to Councilmen Dwane King and Orlando Molinaro to find out why they have not been attending meetings. Keffer said council misses their input.

– Agreed to think about adding funding to next year’s budget to provide part-time police protection for the borough. Resident Mike Gualtieri said people have been speeding, running stop signs and causing damage in town. Council also agreed to write a letter to the state police, asking for more patrols on side streets.