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Date: 1/18/2023
SPRINGFIELD – A proposed resolution from City Councilor At-Large Justin Hurst to remove the city’s trash fee incited extensive debate during the City Council’s Jan. 9 meeting. Some members of the council considered it a worthwhile proposition, while others questioned its viability.
Hurst introduced the resolution for Springfield to allocate $3.7 million to eliminate this year’s trash fee. He said the resolution was originally conceived as an order, but the City Council is unable to propose financial orders as a part of the city’s charter.
In his remarks, Hurst highlighted the infusion of funds the city gained in 2022, including a $41 million settlement from Eversource Energy. Springfield also recently certified $67.8 million in free cash, a total Hurst considered to be “the highest in decades.”
Hurst juxtaposed the additional funds with ongoing hardships Springfield residents are facing. He cited the rise in utility bills, historic inflation numbers and an average increase of $194 for single-home property tax bills as challenging financial circumstances.
“Residents are having to chose between keeping their lights on, heating their homes, paying their bills and putting food on the table … [the trash fee] could prove to be catastrophic for our residents trying to make ends meet, with the trash fee potentially being the straw that breaks our residents’ backs,” said Hurst.
Hurst said that some residents’ dire financial straits make removing the trash fee an effective form of relief. He also questioned city leadership’s ability to connect with residents’ struggles when factoring their salaries.
“When I looked at their salaries … I realized it was probably extremely difficult for those individuals to relate with what our everyday residents are going through,” said Hurst, who cited specific salary figures for Chief Financial and Administrative Officer TJ Plante and Chief Development Officer Timothy Sheehan.
Hurst viewed the resolution as “sending a message to the mayor that we want something done.”
Ward 2 City Councilor Michael Fenton denounced the resolution and Hurst’s approach to his proposal. He said he was “embarrassed” by Hurst’s reference to city employee salaries and questioned the effectiveness of the resolution.
“I am a little caught off guard and embarrassed by some of the remarks made about city employees and their salaries. I don’t see how its germane in any respect to what we’re talking about here tonight, and I am confused and perplexed by what we are even talking about,” said Fenton.
Fenton said that city leadership reminded the council prior to the meeting they could not construct an order to appropriate funds. The councilor considered the issue a “political football” for Hurst, while also stressing that the city can not afford to waive the trash fee as it tries to set up a prudent financial future, which includes addressing the city’s unfunded pension liability.
“It would not just be imprudent to eliminate the trash fee at this time, it is completely impractical,” said Fenton, who concluded his remarks by offering his apology to city leadership for Hurst’s remarks that were “personal in nature.”
Hurst recently announced his 2023 candidacy for Springfield mayor. He is expected to run against incumbent Mayor Domenic Sarno and several other candidates.
Members of the council supported both sides of Hurst and Fenton’s diverging perspectives.
City Councilor At-Large Tracye Whitfield and Ward 8 City Councilor Zaida Govan viewed removing the trash fee as an important cog for helping residents during a time of need.
“The concern is really on the constituents … We have to put the residents of the city of Springfield first,” said Whitfield.
Govan also proposed removing the trash fee in 2021 during her first year as a city councilor. In her support of the trash fee removal resolution, Govan read several comments received from the public about rising expenses. One resident told Govan they would have to sell their house and move out of the state due to the current financial conditions.
“Everything is going up, except the income,” said Govan.
Ward 1 City Councilor Maria Perez and Ward 7 City Councilor Timothy Allen expressed concern with the resolution. Perez said the resolution should have been issued around budget season and stressed that a more cohesive effort from the council regarding the proposal would have been more effective.
“Let’s work as a team and bring the facts there to be dealt with,” said Perez.
Allen said he is understanding of the rising expenses and the hardships they imprint on residents. However, he emphasized the importance of Springfield continuing to be fiscally responsible as they continue to pay off the unfunded pension liability. Annual payments for the liability will be as high as $100 million over the next few years.
“If we don’t pay it, we aren’t being fiscally responsible,” said Allen.
Hurst acknowledged that the resolution does not have any legislative impact, but he viewed the item as a way of sending a message to city leadership.
“I believe in my hearts of hearts that sometime the administration is going to get the picture. Our people are suffering,” said Hurst.
Fenton reminded the council that Sarno’s administration dedicated “unprecedented” tax relief the last few years. After allocating $1 million and $2.5 million in relief against the city’s tax levy in fiscal years 2021 and 2022, Sarno appropriated $10 million towards the fiscal year 23 (FY23) tax levy. He also said removing the trash fee now would create negative impacts on the already-approved city budget.
“There would be implications on the budget that is already approved for FY23,” said Fenton.
Ultimately, the council voted to support Hurst’s resolution in a 7-4 vote. The City Council will meet again on Jan. 23.