City hall notebook: Downtown garbage, cigarette butts and billboards

Downtown garbage pick up and proper disposal of cigarette butts are just a couple of issues on the minds of city councilors these days.

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Ward 2 Coun. Gino Caputo, in a notice of motion presented to councilors at a Feb. 13 meeting, said discarding cigarette butts on the ground is no longer socially acceptable. He wants to kick start a campaign to encourage smokers to much more responsible approach to butting out.

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The campaign would include requiring cigarette manufacturers to help fund the costs of building and distributing cigarette butt collection bins. The legislation could also provide incentives for companies to recycle cigarette butts into consumer products.

Caputo is also proposing a social media campaign educating people about the proposal.

A notice of motion is a way for councilors to inform their colleagues about an issue they intend to bring forward for debate at a future meeting. Caputo’s motion will be discussed at a future council committee meeting.

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Downtown garbage collection

Mayor Kevin Davis, meanwhile, wants to improve downtown garbage collection by changing the times when garbage can be put out and is picked up.

If approved by council, downtown garbage pick up would continue to take place six days a week Monday to Saturday. But the collection time would change to 7 am to 8:30 am from 9:30 am to 11 am

Garbage, meanwhile, could be put out for pick up between 12 am to 7 am instead of 12 am to 9 am

He’s also proposing garbage drop off bins be placed in the municipal parking lot at the Dalhousie Street and King Street intersection.

Honoraria

Davis also brought forth a notice of motion to have the approximately $12,000 in honorarium he receives as a member of the Grand Bridge Energy Board split between Community Resource Service (Brantford Food Bank), Salvation Army, Rosewood House and Why Not Youth Centre. The honorarium he receives as a vice-chair on the Grand River Conservation Authority will be directed to Brant United Way.

The motion covers the years 2023 and 2024.

The mayor requires council approval to redirect honorarium and fees he receives for his involvement with outside organizations.

Billboards

Coun. John Sless (Ward 2) meanwhile, wants to review the city’s sign bylaw to allow for an increase in the number of signs permitted on a lot.

The motion presented by Sless directs staff to review best practices and prepare a report and possible amendments to the city’s sign bylaw.

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