Brentwood weighs time extension for dumpster compliance
By Martin Ricard
Diversity Institute Fellow
03.13.06
The Brentwood Board of Commissioners tentatively approved an amendment Monday night that would give businesses, churches and schools until Oct. 1 to build enclosures around garbage dumpsters.
An ordinance passed five years ago gave them until May 1 to comply. But as the deadline approaches, the city found that about 243 buildings still haven't fulfilled the requirement.
Giving businesses more time is the latest step in the commission's plans to beautify the city and to get commercially-zoned properties to comply with existing standards.
"We gave them time five years ago," said Mayor Joe Sweeney. "I don't know how much more we can do."
A public hearing will be held April 10 and a second vote will follow on April 27 before the extension becomes official.
City Manager Mike Walker said extending the deadline would allow businesses to explore all their options and figure out how to best comply with the ordinance.
Some business owners have complained that they still are not clear about what the city expects.
"If the city requires an owner to build an enclosure, it should give design guidance on how to build it," said Bert Bosse, who manages Brentwood Building Maintenance Janitorial and Supply Co.
Commissioners also voted to require temporary businesses operating less than 120 days per year to build enclosures as well, despite a previous suggestion that they be exempted.
"If they're seasonal, they're still a business," said Commissioner Paul Webb. "It's all about property value and making the city look better."
But Commissioners Anne Dunn and Regina Smithson said it was unfair to require those businesses to meet the same standards.
"I think it's just absurd to require temporary businesses to spend $10,000 to $15,000 to build a masonry structure around a dumpster," Dunn said.
"I don't consider it a level playing field," Smithson added. "My opinion is that a seasonal business doesn't need to spend money for this."