Curbside recycling rejected in Oromocto plebiscite

Oromoctohas resoundingly rejected switching tocurbside recycling,and the 50 per cent increase in collection fees that would have come with it.

A plebiscite on the issue was held during Monday night's municipal election that alsosaw twocouncillors elected, while the rest of council wasacclaimed.

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Oromocto currently has three community recycling depots.The goal of the plebiscite was to measure public interest in switching.

Thequestion on the ballot was:Do you want the Town of Oromocto to provide bi-weekly curbside collection of recyclable paper, plastics and metal cans, which will require a forty dollar ($40) per year increase to the eighty dollar ($80) per year fee currently charged to each residential unit for garbage collection?

According to unofficial Elections New Brunswick results, 728 residents voted no, compared to only 204 yes votes.

Councillorincumbents LorraineDaweand JeffKirkbridewere re-elected inWard 1,earning327 and 317 votes respectively. Theydefeatednewcomer AllisonMockler, who got 166 votes.

Robert (Bob)Powellwill continue to serve as the town'smayor by acclamation.

In Ward 2, Raymond Ignatius Henry and Alex J. Zaporzan were both acclaimed. Ward 3 also hastwo acclaimed councillors: Sheridan Mawhinney and Kelly Murdock.