At its latest work session on Nov. 24, the Gettysburg Borough Council began preparations for rebidding the borough’s waste-hauling contract, a process complicated by past service issues and the challenges of switching haulers. Council President Matt Moon said the borough must finalize specifications soon, as the current Waste Management contract expires March 31.
Staff outlined the services now covered, including mandatory residential pickup, single-stream recycling, e-waste disposal events, and municipal trash service for street cans, borough buildings, and major events. Yard-waste pickup had been included in the contract but was discontinued by the hauler midway through the term. The borough also continues to grapple with inconsistent participation in the confusing bag-tag system used by low-volume customers.
Moon emphasized that changing haulers is rarely seamless. During the last transition, the borough faced missed pickups, poor communication, and confusion over who was required to switch to the new provider. Some residents continued using their previous hauler without realizing the ordinance required them to move to the contracted service. Council members said any future change must be paired with stronger communication, clearer service expectations, and a firmer enforcement plan to avoid repeating that experience.
Council also discussed whether the next contract should include commercial customers. Supporters said a unified hauler could reduce truck traffic, simplify enforcement, strengthen recycling compliance, and potentially lower rates through a larger customer base. Others urged more outreach before considering such a mandate, noting that businesses often have long-standing agreements and unique access challenges, especially in alleys.
Council member William Mooney said he would work to gather input from residents and businesses regarding the waste contract in the coming weeks.
Council then reviewed its 2026 legislative priorities. Major goals include finalizing the long-pending sidewalk ordinance, updating the subdivision and land-development ordinance (SALDO), examining the historic district review process, and continuing work on infrastructure issues such as Stevens Run retaining walls and long-term planning for borough facilities.
Several members also called for renewed advocacy to change how the county distributes hotel pillow-tax revenue, arguing Gettysburg hosts the majority of tourism activity but receives only a small portion of the funds.
During public comment, local business owner Brian Hodges said the borough deserves a much larger share of pillow-tax revenue and should not use local tax dollars to cover the planned $100,000 allocation toward America250 and Lincoln-related events. He said Destination Gettysburg and private donors should bear those costs instead. Hodges also urged the borough to modernize its parking system by adopting digital kiosks, which many municipalities now use.
Business owner John Buchheister echoed concerns about pillow-tax distribution and said Destination Gettysburg should contribute to 250th anniversary programming. He also praised the council’s discussion on improving waste services.