Letters

Hazmat clarification


To the Editor:


I am writing to clarify a statement made in Jay Card’s ad in the October 8 issue of the Reporter. The ad says Jay “will reinstitute the hazmat program.”


Just to set the record straight, Shelter Island’s hazmat program is up and running. As announced in our town ad in the October 1 issue of the Reporter, the S.T.O.P. program for household hazardous waste was held on October 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Recycling Center. In the same issue, it was reported in the Town Board article that I announced that hazmat disposal days will be the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Recycling Center.

If what Jay’s ad meant to say was that he would go back to allowing hazmats to be dropped off at the Recycling Center anytime, I must inform him that: 


a) The S.T.O.P. program conducted last Saturday was a complete success;


b) The cost of allowing people to drop off their hazmats any time could become another safety and health issue and be cost prohibitive. Daily drop-offs would add an estimated $12,000 annually to our cost. Even though the state will reimburse the town 50 percent for all costs, this is another way to trim the budget and to continue department efficiencies.


MARK KETCHAM



Highway Superintendent candidate