FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 25, 2011 CONTACT: BECKY MILLER, 518-727-1841

SHEEHAN CALLS FOR A MORATORIUM ON COLONIE LANDFILL DEAL

Colonie Town Supervisor candidate Denise Sheehan today called for a moratorium on the Mahan administrations proposed landfill deal with Waste Connections, Inc. in order to allow more time to scrutinize the deal and its impacts on Town residents. Sheehan said a moratorium should last until all information on the arrangement is released to the public. Sheehan is also calling for the plan, if and when approved, to include a taxpayer neutrality provision to assure that Colonie residents and businesses do not pay any more for refuse removal due to any provision of the agreement. This administration has operated largely in secrecy on the landfill transaction and other fiscal matters, said Sheehan. Transparency is not achieved merely by scheduling public meetings; you have to inform the public with a release of all pertinent information. That has not been the case with this administration. From the few details of the deal with Californias Waste Connections that have been made public, I have very serious concerns about the fiscal implications on homeowners and businesses in the Town. I am also concerned that this secret deal will tie the hands of Town residents for the next 25 years and we dont have a clear understanding of what we are committing to or giving up over that term. Deals of this nature are complex and should be subject to extensive public scrutiny. From the limited information residents have been provided since the deal was revealed less than two weeks ago, residents attending the meetings have expressed serious concerns that it is not the best interest of Colonie taxpayers and I share their concerns. said Sheehan. Sheehan also asserted that a taxpayer neutrality provision should be included in any such deal, to protect residents from adverse financial consequences of the Mahan proposal. Residents are being kept in the dark, and at the same time will be asked to pay more for their trash pick up. A deal of this magnitude should include more protections for residents and businesses from rising disposal costs to avoid this deal from resulting in a hidden garbage tax. This plan should be protecting taxpayers, but instead, Mahans plan would make residents and businesses in Colonie vulnerable to a California waste company. Sheehan and Town Board candidate Peter Molinaro previously filed a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request with the Town to gain more information on the proposed deal

on behalf of town taxpayers. Their request sought the details of Californias Waste Connections deal, along with the bids of the other companies, to be made public. Sheehan and Molinaros request was denied by the Town and they are now appealing that decision. They believe that the law requires the information be made public because the competitive bid process has been completed, and Waste Connections has been selected as the winning bidder with negotiations on a contract now finalized. Molinaro joined Sheehan in calling on the Town to place a moratorium on the landfill deal with Waste Connections, which is expected to be voted on by the Town Board on Thursday, July 28th, until all requested information is made public and can be reviewed, analyzed and digested by Town residents. Sheehan is a former Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, giving her extensive experience in the issues of solid waste and landfill management. During her tenure, she worked extensively on landfill-related issues with local governments. ###