Freeholder Jim Schroeder 

Contact:  Jim Schroeder, 609-338-3215
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 17, 2010 

Schroeder Calls for Changes to ACUA's Waste Flow Ordinance 

   Freeholder Jim Schroeder is calling for additional changes to the proposed ordinance to require all of Atlantic County's trash to be sent to the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA).      

“My questions and concerns are both substantive and procedural,” Schroeder said.  “On Tuesday night we heard compelling testimony from municipal officials, waste haulers and concerned residents as to the potentially harmful effects this new mandate might have on municipal budgets, small businesses and taxpayers.  Their concerns are, in my judgment, legitimate.”    

“The ACUA, on the other hand, says that if we do not provide them with a monopoly on Atlantic County's trash, then a trash crisis will occur and Atlantic County taxpayers may end up footing the bill.  With a proverbial gun to our heads, the freeholders will be asked to take action on this issue one week prior to the March 1^st deadline for the ACUA to come up with its annual $8,000,000 debt service payment.”    “I have not made a firm decision as to how I will vote on this issue.  I remain concerned as to the long term effects of giving this much authority to the ACUA.  Any compromise must protect the taxpayers in all twenty-three of Atlantic County's municipalities.   Before we vote on this ordinance, I think every Mayor and Councilmember in every town in the county should be given a contract stipulating the rates their town will pay for the next three years under a mandated waste flow arrangement.”    

 “Additionally, there should be a sunset provision.  The ordinance should state that the waste flow mandate will expire at the end of the three year period unless it is reauthorized at that time by majority vote of the freeholder board.  Hopefully, this sunset provision will help to build into this ordinance some sorely needed accountability on the part of the ACUA.”     

 “Next time, it is also hoped that the public will be brought into the discussion sooner and this important public policy discussion will not have to be conducted in an eleventh hour crisis atmosphere.” 

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