City Will Collect Trash At Convent

The Hyattsville City Council earlier this week decided to extend trash pickup at St. Jerome's Convent and Child Center for a year in return for short term parking rights at St. Jerome's church.

The city has been collecting trash at the convent for years, but that service was ended in July after a complaint that trash was overflowing from trash containers. The city first extended pickup until August and then until the Sept. 7 council meeting.

Mayor William Gardiner said he is not sure that there is not a need for the additional parking area.

"I'm concerned that this is sort of a way to justify something that's [not really needed]," he said.

Previously, the city signed an agreement with St. Jerome's to provide $2,000 toward resurfacing the church's parking lot because it is often used by city police and other city entities.

The new agreement would not require that the city repeatedly pay for such resurfacing, said City Attorney Richard Colaresi.

Resident David Marshall does not think the city should be collecting trash from businesses.

"I think if you do this you're making a grave mistake," he told the council.

At one time the city picked up trash from the American Red Cross facility on Belcrest Road, said Councilwoman Paula Perry (Ward 4).

"That doesn't make it right!" Marshall shouted during the meeting.

Although the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur declined to comment on the situation, St. Jerome's pastor James Stack – who is also the Hyattsville Police Department chaplain – said at an August 2 City Council meeting that he hoped the city would continue to do it.

"This is also the home of some of the nuns," said Councilwoman Ruth Ann Frazier (Ward 5). "We pick up trash at the homes of residents of the city."

The childcare center provides services for children six-weeks through four years old at or below market rate. The city has provided trash collection for the location since it moved from Ravenswood on 42nd Place in the 1960s and continued to do so when the childcare center opened in early 1980, according to a city council motion drafted by Councilman William Tierney (Ward 2).

According to the Aug. 2 motion, the center, located at 5300 43rd Ave., has several obstacles to placing a Dumpster on site. Although an alley dead ends at the rear of the building, placing a Dumpster there would intrude on the childcare play area significantly reducing that space in order to conform to health and safety standards. The Dumpster would also violate the City Code restriction for distance from a residence.

"The suggestion that staff haul trash from the [center] on 43rd Avenue to [St. Jerome's] School dumpsters located on 42nd Place is impracticable and would artificially inflate the costs to the School," the Aug. 2 motion, which was tabled, states.

The city is required to pick up trash from residents, but not necessarily from other entities, Colaresi said on Aug. 2.

Picking up trash at the convent would "open doors for any 501(c)(3) to petition for the same privilege and they will win," he said.

The city will provide five trash Toters to the convent/center, Tierney said.

The issue will be revisited in a year.