“Unkind comments on social media” lead to more costly trash service

by Tom Chillemi – 

The Urbanna Town Council recently approved a trash service contract with Church View Septic Service for $93,000 per year. This amount is a significant increase over the previous year.

At the beginning of the Aug. 12 Urbanna Town Council meeting, Mayor Barbara Hartley spoke about the effects of negative social media and the proper way to notify the town about issues. She also spoke about plans for a new pool.

Mayor Hartley sent a copy of her remarks to the Sentinel. Here is what she said about the recent trash service and speaking at council meetings.

“One recent problem we have faced involved our trash and recycling service. We (the town) had been very fortunate to have stretched what had started as a temporary, emergency fix at a very favorable rate, to last over several years. But COVID-19 and other issues changed the landscape as far as available labor, equipment, materials, and costs went. That vendor found itself stretched to the limit. Unkind comments on social media (instead of being properly directed to the town hall) pushed that vendor well beyond any comfort level, to declare the contract was not worth the abuse. We were given two weeks notice. Yes, folks, words have consequences.”