BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- More changes are coming to spring cleanup in Massena, this time with the town shortening spring cleanup from nearly one month to just three days in May.

According to Highway Superintendent Dylan Casselman, the move to three days was to avoid conflicts with other towns and villages who also utilize the transfer station for spring cleanup.

Casselman told town board members during the Feb. 21 meeting that the town’s spring cleanup will run from May 16-18. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on May 16 and 17 and from 8 a.m. to noon on May 18.

The last year the town did spring cleanup over three days was in 2018, Casselman said.

Unlike the village's spring cleanup, which has since been moved to August, no vouchers will be needed.

Casselman told board members that residents simply need to show proof of identification, such as a utility bill or driver's license, in order to participate.

“We have a printed book of every town resident or address name that we will be able to check them in. So anything that has their name and address on it, we can check against our files,” he said.

Changes have also been implanted for the village cleanup, the biggest change being the shift to August.

At a Feb. 13 meeting trustees announced that curbside pickup will not be implemented and residents will now only receive one voucher for one trip to dump refuse at the transfer station.

Department of Public Works Superintendent Marty Miller told trustees the change will allow the department to continue to offer the service to village residents while cutting down on costs.

"What we've come up with was, it would go from spring cleanup and the dates would be August 19 through the 31st," Miller said.

Miller said the hours of operation will follow the current St. Lawrence County Solid Waste schedule for the two week period. The transfer station will be open Monday through Wednesday and Friday for normal hours, as well as on Saturdays until noon, he said.

Changes to vouchers are also planned, he said.

"The village would not mail out vouchers, they will be picked up at the DPW building during the month of July between the hours of 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm. You will have to show a proof of residency, a recent utility bill for example. As always no commercial properties will receive vouchers and residents who do not pay for our refuse service will not get a voucher," Miller said.

The County Transfer Station will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Restrictions on what can be dumped would also be tweaked as well, with no tires allowed and no more than two mattresses or box springs allowed per voucher.

Miller also said once a voucher is picked up the department would not reprint one in the event it is lost or damaged.