Hagerstown City Council briefs

January 15, 2003|by SCOTT BUTKI

Community residents request tax rebate

About 100 residents of a Hagerstown gated community attended a Hagerstown City Council work session Tuesday to submit a petition asking for a tax rebate for city services not provided to them.

Mayor William M. Breichner said the city will consider their request, but Councilman Lewis Metzner said he would be shocked if the city gave them any money.

The residents are part of the homeowners association at Summerland Manor, a gated community off Security Road.

Group spokesman Frank Sullivan said it is not fair that the residents pay city taxes but do not, for example, get electricity from City Light.

Summerland Manor provides many of its own services, including a security force, road maintenance, snow removal, trash collection and landscaping.

The petition was signed by 162 homeowners from the community, which has about 175 houses, Sullivan said.

Senior citizens living in the community are concerned about how long they can afford to pay both city and county taxes, Councilman N. Linn Hendershot said.

Metzner said the residents also should talk to the county about a rebate.

Metzner offered to mediate a meeting on the issue between city, homeowners association and county officials.

While community members complained about double taxation by the city and county, the same argument can be made by other city residents, city officials said.

Mayor, council members get free recycling bins

New 18-gallon recycling bins were given to Mayor William M. Breichner and members of the Hagerstown City Council during Tuesday's work session.

The city is giving up to 1,000 bins free to Hagerstown trash customers.

Residents can have bins delivered by calling the Recycle Hagerstown line at 301-739-8577, ext. 106 and leaving their name, phone number and the address where the bin should be delivered.

City Engineer Rodney Tissue said the city has received 155 calls from people who want the bins.

The bins are for voluntary recycling of mixed paper, which is defined by the city as office paper, computer paper, colored paper, newspaper, cardboard, mail, magazines, catalogs, telephone books, adhesive notes and folders.

Residents can place the bins at the curb on Wednesdays after 4 p.m. for Thursday morning collections.

The city thinks the bins program will increase the number of people who recycle, Tissue said.

|

|

|