Getting trashed. (WMP&I and Google images)

SPRINGFIELD—Returning from its summer slowdown that comes every August, the City Council confronted a phalanx of financial and property orders that made for a hefty agenda. However, a different kind of hefty may have defined the most compelling and complicated issue was before councilors on Monday.

Public Works chief Chris Cignoli presented councilors with a major revision to both the city’s trash removal ordinance and the underlying regulations. The Council had many questions enough that it was clear the item needed to go to committee. Still, Cignoli’s presentation made clear several updates were necessary. Some were just overdue updates and others reflect changing state regulations.

Councilors Malo Brown, Sean Curran, Maria Perez, Kateri Walsh and Tracye Whitfield participated remotely. Whitfield logged in shortly after the meeting began. Ward 5 Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce transitioned to remote later in the meeting.

The trash measures were two items at the end of the meeting: an ordinance and the city’s underlying regulations. At least some of the changes were to bring the city into formal compliance with state environmental rules. Others are a reaction to the consequences of other regs.

Mattress Garbage? Only Happy When It’s Recycled. (via wikipedia)

For example, at the end of 2022, the state Department of Environmental Protection mandated recycling for all mattresses. While mattresses have always been a bulk item—requiring an $8 sticker for curbside pickup—they could no longer go to scrappers. Mattress recycling is more expensive, but that is not the issue.

In 2023, the city saw an explosive increase in mattress pickups. Prior to the recycling mandate, Cignoli said, Springfield processed about 2,500 mattresses. That figure has rocketed to 7,500. One address had 35 mattresses picked up in a year.

Cignoli noted the disposal costs in many neighboring towns is orders of magnitude more expensive. He posits that people are illegally trucking mattresses to Springfield addresses and having them picked up at the city’s much lower bulk rate.

To address this and defray recycling costs, Cignoli wants mattress pickup to require two stickers, raising the price to $16. It would still be cheaper than many communities, but could discourage mattress transiting.

Another change would cap how long bulk items stay on curbs. This would address online posts for “free” items on tree belts. It would not stop the practice, just curb ad hoc unattended tree belt bazaars.

Other changes would allow DPW to directly issue fines up to $250. Technically, that power exists now, but the fine is zero. The changes also clarify the rules about revocation of trash service, placement of barrels and establishes a clearer appeals process.

It would also revise regulations for radioactive material in residential waste. Cignoli said this was almost always from a home occupant or pet undergoing radiation treatments. If this radioactive waste ends up in the barrel, it enters the garbage stream. The city catches it at the dump with Geiger counters. The city spends about $30,000 annually for disposal. The impact is not just money, though. Any truck that carries the waste must be sidelined for days to let the half-life of the radioactive material pass.

Cignoli not as happy when trash is complicated, but though you know he can appreciate it. (still via Focus Springfield)

The changes authorize essentially public education process to inform residents about proper disposal.

Ward 6 Councilor Victor Davila probed the relationship with the city’s illegal dumping ordinance. Cignoli said it wasn’t applicable. Rather, the police enforce that ordinance. At-large Councilor Brian Santaniello asked about any uptick in illegal dumping of mattresses. The DPW chief said the problem is management companies gathering mattresses and, aside from illegally importing them to Springfield, securing legal pickup on city curbs.

After additional debate, the ordinance was referred to the Maintenance & Development Committee for further discussion. The order amending the solid waste regulations also went to committee.

The meeting had started with the revenue and expenditures report for July, the first month of fiscal year 2025. Comptroller Pat Burns noted that that the city made its annual pension contribution for the year.

The $98.3 million payment consisted of $68.2 million for city-side (non-School Department) employees and $30.1 million for School employees. The distinction is significant as the two are essentially separate budgets with largely separate revenue streams.

The Council confirmed Ellen Hurley to the Springfield Redevelopment Authority (SRA). The principal point of praise was her career in the School Department. She had been a principal at Frederick Harris and later moved up to the Central Office.

At-large Councilor Kateri Walsh noted that Hurley would be filling that realtor Dot Lortie had held on the SRA’s board. Walsh called Hurley, a “very impressive person.”

The confirmation was unanimous.

Councilors received a pair of zone changes, but there was no formal action to take at this stage. Petitions to open Jennings and Wisteria streets from GoNetSpeed, a telecom company, received approval.

Parks, Recreation & Building Management Executive Director Thomas Ashe and City Forester Alex Sherman presented a $6 million grant from the US Forest Service. About $1 million will go just to new plantings. Other programs this will fund include neighborhood nursery programs, park tree care, woodland management, mature tree care, and removal and pruning of hazardous trees. Sherman noted that it will also let the city develop a new Urban Forest Master Plan.

What wood you do? (via Springfield City Hall)

“It’s been many years since we did this, so it is urgently needed,” he said.

Once nicknamed the City in the Country, Springfield has robust tree canopy—Sherman told councilors the city is at 36% tree cover. That is just under the US Forest Service’s 40% recommendation. Yet, he noted this is not uniform across the city. It is lower in the city’s inner, more urban neighborhoods, something the fund will help address. The grant will also cover administrative cost.

Councilors accepted the grant without dissent.

The body authorized the Information Technology department to enter into five-year leases for equipment. The city’s Chief Information Office, Andrew Doty, said five-year lease cycles has yielded savings. Furthermore, Police Department is joining this procurement, which should provide additional savings. Responding to a question, Doty said the Fire Department is already under the existing IT contract.

While paling in comparison to the US Forest Service’s largesse, the Council approved still more grants. All passed without dissent. The Department of Elder Affairs received $499,661 for its workforce inclusion grant that provides jobs for seniors.

Public Works czar Cignoli presented a $240,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. It will go to the $350,000 crosswalk project at the Central Library. A US Department of Energy grant for $197,920 will fund replacement of the boiler and other equipment at the Barney Carriage House.

Library Director Molly Fogarty presented two grants from the Springfield Library Foundation, the library system’s nonprofit fundraising and trust management arm. The first, for $180,000, will pay for library materials including digital subscription services. The second, for $145,000, will defray salary costs.

The final grant presented separately was for the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control Department. It will help fund operations. Smaller grants under $100,000 presented as a block went to the Dispatch, Elder Affairs, Fire, Library, Parks and Public Works departments.

Councilors accepted the quarterly public access payment from Comcast. Valued at $145,829, it will be turned over to Focus Springfield, the city’s public access television station. Deputy Chief Administrative & Financial Officer Lindsey Hackett did not know if the grant had shrunk as people cancel cable TV. She said she had a government affairs contact at the company to inquire further.

The body approved a five-year lease for equipment in the crime analysis division of the Police Department. However, the request was really a bookkeeping change. Delays prevented final payment under the contract. The Council was only authorizing an extension to allow the city to pay out for services it had received.

Housing Director McCafferty (via Twitter)

Housing Director Gerry McCafferty presented a series of property transfers that will go to affordable housing developers. The properties are all in the Old Hill and Upper Hill neighborhoods. Due a conflict, Council President Michael Fenton abstained the transfers. He ceded the gavel to Council Veep Melvin Edwards for the duration of the body’s deliberation on this issue.

Three properties will go to Springfield City of Homes Development, which is associated with Wayfinders. They will demolish the existing, dilapidated structures and build new homes. Another seven will go to Old Hill Infill, LLC, which is affiliated with Home City Development. They will build new homes on vacant lots. All of the projects have funding.

At-large councilor Tracye Whitfield peppered McCafferty and the representatives of both companies about utilizing and mentoring minority contractors.

“We are right there with you and wanting to make that happen,” McCafferty said. She cited working with MassHousing to help connect contractors with city projects.

Both developers indicated a desire to work with minority contractors. Neither had a formal mentorship program but committed to Whitfield they would reach out to contractors and help develop their businesses.

All real estate transfers passed without dissent.

The meeting’s final item, an ordinance to let veterans park at meters for free, remained in committee. This was the request of Councilor Davila, the item’s sponsor.

As hot a topic as garbage can be—whether the trash fee or illegal dumping—the particularities and peculiarities of solid waste disposal may themselves be a snooze. However, at the core of the proposed changes are matters of resource management and, ultimately, quality of life.

(WMP&I)

Reading the state’s regulation on mattresses, there is a great deal of wisdom in mandating their recycling. The second-order effect that Springfield is an almost too-perfect analogy of out-of-towers dumping on Springfield. But whether it is cheap property managers or even DGAF residents, these regulations do appear aim to making conditions in the City of Homes a bit better for everyone.