MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. -- The city of Middletown is hoping to save millions of dollars over the coming years by finding a cheaper way to pick up trash.
Officials say they need to cut expenses to keep the city under the state's property tax cap. Mayor Joe DeStefano wants to spend close to $3 million on a garbage truck with a mechanical arm that could be operated by one person.
"It's complicated," the mayor explained. "There's potential for huge savings, huge public and employee benefit to the automated arm versus the 40-year-old back. We're looking forward to the information."
Alderman Joe Masi, however, supports contracting a private hauler to do the trash collections.
"I truly believe that there's a savings in excess of three quarters of a million dollars per year," explained Masi, who chairs the finance committee. "And that's every year, that's not just one year."
If approved, the privatization plan would mean that 15 DPW workers would lose their jobs. Masi says he's hopeful that the private company hired would then employ those workers. With the mayor's plan, nearly seven workers could lose their jobs, which he hopes will be mitigated through attrition and relocation.
Officials say a plan to overhaul the trash pickup system is in its infancy, and that nothing will be done before public input and more data is collected.
Whatever plan is ultimately chosen, DeStefano says there will be no disruption in service, so problems like the illegal dumping seen in Newburgh won't happen in Middletown.
"We're in the business of garbage pick-up for many, many years," he said. "We won't want to change the level of service. If we were going to save a few dollars and reduce the level of service, I would be absolutely opposed to it."
DeStefano says he hopes to have the change in place by either late this year or early next year.