Harper Woods

City looks at updating ordinances, including pensions

By April Lehmbeck
C & G Staff Writer

HARPER WOODS — There has been a lot of talk in recent months at city meetings about a need to look at some of the Harper Woods’ ordinances, so the Ordinance Committee is digging into some of that work.

The city’s Ordinance Committee met July 16 to discuss some possible changes to different ordinances and is planning to meet again to talk about some more issues that need updating.

During the recent meeting, they talked about possible changes to the garbage ordinance, the rental ordinance and pensions.

“We made good progress in the pension ordinance and some good progress on the rubbish ordinance,” Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl Costantino said during the meeting.

Residents have brought up issues with trash in recent months at meetings.

One major possible change they discussed was moving to a bag-only program, which would save the city about $17,000 in costs to the hauler.

There are other possible advantages to a bag-only system.

“It stops the empty cans from rolling all over the street,” acting City Manager Randolph Skotarczyk said during the meeting.

However, some concerns were discussed about a bag-only system possibly attracting rats, birds or other animals to the trash. The city can require container storage until trash night when the garbage is placed at the curb, per the discussion at the meeting.

Certain garbage bags are more durable, which would prevent possible animal issues. Yet, those are more expensive.

“We could actually be very specific about the bag,” Skotarczyk said.

Ordinance Committee members said they wanted to see a specified bag weight in the ordinance if they end up going to bag only.

They also discussed how they want to make sure trash cans are not viewable from the street, as some residents place them on the side of the house instead of in the backyard.

One resident at the Ordinance Committee meeting raised a concern about trash flying from a receptacle at a business on Kelly into the neighborhoods. It was something he has raised in the past.

Another issue they tackled was a rental ordinance.

“Our problem is the housing stock that’s being turned over every three months,” resident and state representative candidate Valerie Kindle said during the meeting.

She also mentioned that they need to do something about ensuring a trash receptacle is on site if someone is getting evicted so that everything isn’t thrown on the lawn.

“At the very least, they should have to pay for a special pickup,” Costantino said.

They discussed what they wanted to charge for multiple units as part of the fee structure.

The pension discussion revolved around such things as considering pursuing language changes to length of employment and drawing pensions.

They also discussed ordinance enforcement, discussing the possibility of using civilians to write ordinance violations or possibly just warnings.

“I think we could get some volunteers who are interested in doing this,” Skotarczyk said of the possibility of issuing warnings.

While the committee tackled the major ordinances, there are still some others. One big task yet to come is looking at updating the city’s fee schedule, Skotarczyk said.

“They haven’t been updated in many years, and our fees are well below what other communities charge,” he said.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer April Lehmbeck at alehmbeck@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1043.