The next time you contemplate trash day, you may want to ponder whether or not you could live with just one pick-up per week or you absolutely, positively, must have two per week.

We have been reporting for a few weeks now that DeKalb County is lowering the number of trash pick ups from two times per week to once per week. Yard waste and recycling will continue to be picked up one time per week each - just as they are now. The kicker is that if it is decided to keep the rates the same as they are now - we will get 25% less service for the same money - 50% less service when looking at trash pick-up alone. 

According to Mayor J Max Davis, our City Administration will be able to decide for us whether we accept the plan as proposed by DeKalb County or whether we want to pay extra for exactly the same service we enjoy now. This is why you need to take 5 minutes to let the City know your preference and have your opinion counted.

Mayor Davis said during a January 22 City Council Meeting that he thinks the one day per week pick-up may lead to really stinky trash and that he prefers the two day per week trash pick-up - but does understand that paying $40 more per year is an issue as well for some citizens.

The two likely scenarios are:

1. 1 Recycling, 1 Yard Waste, 1 Trash Pickup
   = Costs stay the same, lose 1 Trash Pickup.
2. 1 Recycling, 1 Yard Waste, 2 Trash Pickup
   = Cost will rise $40.00 per year, Service stays the same.

Note: Despite rising costs for labor and operations, this is the first proposed change in DeKalb sanitation fees since 2007.

If you have an opinion and would like to address the Mayor or your City Councilperson beyond what you are capable of in the survey above, here is their email address information:

• Mayor J Max Davis: jmax.davis@brookhaven-ga.us
  
• Rebecca Chase Williams - District 1: rebecca.williams@brookhavenga.gov
• Jim Eyre - District 2: jim.eyre@brookhavenga.gov
• Bates Mattison - District 3: bates.mattison@brookhavenga.gov
• Joe Gebbia - District 4: joe.gebbia@brookhavenga.gov

Present*:
Mayor J Max Davis, District 1 Councilwoman – Rebecca Chase Williams, District 2 Councilman – Jim Eyre, City Clerk – Susan Hiott, Interim City Manager – Marie Garrett, Interim City Attorney – Bill Riley, * District 3 Councilman – Bates Mattison, joined later

The meeting got under way with a review of the City Charter by Bill Riley. The first topic was a discussion on Term Limits.

"We’ve looked at that [Term Limits for the Mayor] and term limits are only of course for the Mayor, there’s been some discussion of having 2 full terms instead of a partial term and a full term for the Mayor. After some research we think that probably we’re going to need to have that passed at the Legislature rather than by home rule since it is an election matter”, said Riley. “If that’s something that you [Mayor Davis] desire we can certainly get it into this years hopper and see if we can’t get it through if that would be the desire of the Council on that.”

Thirty fourth graders at Woodward Elementary in Dekalb County jumped up and down with excitement when The Rotary Club of Brookhaven donated 90 paperback books to their class last Thursday.

Ms. Bethann Soons’ 30 students now each have their own personal copy of “The Giver” by Lois Lowry, “The Westing Game” by Ellen Raskin, and “My Name is Brian” by Jeanne Betancourt.

The Rotary Club of Brookhaven’s Literacy initiative supports Woodward Elementary through regular book donations and bi-weekly readings to first, second, and/or third grade classes.

According to the "Let's Talk Trash" schedule, the last public outreach meeting on Sanitation will be held this weekend.

Saturday, Feb 2, 9 AM
Chapel Hill Middle School
3535 Dogwood Farm Rd
Decatur, GA 30034

At the 1.22.13 City Council Meeting, Mayor J Max Davis brought up Sanitation (Trash, Recycling, and Yard Waste), where Bill Riley explained that the City has pursued an IGA with service levels to remain as they are today. There is a kink in that plan, however. As many of the Brookhaven Citizens may already know, Dekalb County is considering countywide rate increases for Sanitation Services. Bill Riley explains, "I would anticipate that when they [Dekalb County] make a decision on what they are going to do, they will come to the cities and offer either once a week or twice a week for Garbage pickup...whenever they do it, it will go to all the cities at one time...they will present a couple of options and the cities will vett and choose the option and build the IGA around that." 

The First City of Brookhaven Town Hall Meeting, held January 24th at 7:30 PM, in the Woodruff Auditorium at Marist School.

The purpose of the the event was to introduce the Mayor and City Council and the City’s department heads, provide departmental updates and processes, present updates on the City’s ordinances, future plans, and provide time for City of Brookhaven citizens to ask questions of the Mayor, Council and staff.

Getting the evening underway, Mayor Davis provided a brief summary of events beginning with the swearing in on Dec 10 (video here) and since that date Davis explained that they have been going through a rapid series of events such as City Council Meetings, Work Sessions, etc., ensuring that the City get started up as the Charter dictated on December 17th. On December 17th, the newly elected Mayor and Council held their first City Council meeting in the history of the City of Brookhaven at 12:01 AM (Video Here). Later in the day on December 17th there was a ribbon cutting ceremony at Brookhaven City Hall (Video Here).

Mayor Davis fast forwarded to January 18th, where he explained that City Operations and Community Development started taking applications for alcohol licenses, business licenses, and building permits. 
Two days before, the City held an open house where over 120 people attended, signifying a high degree of interest for prospective business.

Mayor J Max Davis and the City of Brookhaven have released their 2013 Proposed Budget.

"As required by the City Charter, it is my pleasure to submit for your consideration the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 budget for the City of Brookhaven. Over the years, many citizens have
poured countless hours and worked passionately to create true local control and a more responsive government for Georgia’s newest City. I look forward to working together to create a vibrant and proactive City; one focused on accessibility, transparency and provision of the level of services our citizens deserve. We have been entrusted to provide nothing less and together we will be held accountable as stewards. As Brookhaven’s first mayor, I ask you to join me as we meet the needs of our great community."

"The FY 2013 budget will present challenges. As was expected, our first year budget revenues are significantly less than they will be in our first full year of operations and revenue projected for 2014. However, our FY 2013 Budget anticipates enough revenue to support a responsive and transparent City while remaining within the millage rate cap outlined in the charter. For our first year, I recommend we adopt the 3.35 mill maximum outlined in the charter. Though my preference is a lower millage rate, I do not feel that would be a responsible recommendation for our first year due to the high level of demands from years of neglect, the significant revenue sources not received until 2014, a troubled real estate market just starting to rebound, and the unknown expenses we may face during our first year. With that being said, it is my strong desire that staff and Council exercise the restraint and oversight needed to reduce this rate for our residents as early as next year."

"During our first year the City will lack the financial reserves needed in order to stabilize the cash
flow needs of operations as compared to what we will have in 2014."

On the heels of last nights Brookhaven Town Hall Meeting, Mayor Davis informed the citizens that 2014 will bring a full budget - just as the CVI predicted with "no surprises."