GREENFIELD — Like most plastic, the conversation of a ban on carryout plastic bags seems to never go away. But it’s possible once and for all that Greenfield will agree to ban the single-use bags at tonight’s City Council meeting.
The meeting, which will be held at the John Zon Community Center, is one of several times in which it has seemed that the council might ban plastic bags.
If a majority of councilors decide they favor the ban, then it can become law, several years after first serious talks on the matter.
The proposed ban has taken different shapes over the years, from 2013 when it was discussed among residents and the council to when it narrowly failed as a non-binding referendum in 2015, and most recently, when it failed in a vote in November. A motion for reconsideration by Precinct 6 Councilor Sheila Gilmour kept the ban alive and now it could face a decisive vote.
The ordinance, which would ban plastic bags at retail stores and impose at least a 5 cent fee on recyclable paper bags, has taken a back seat in recent months to the discussions over a new public library. The library is not slated to be discussed at this meeting, although there is likely to be some talk over myriad potential plans related to the library.
One wrinkle in this equation is whether the council will consider the suggestion of At-Large Councilor Isaac Mass to put the plastic bag ban up to the voters of Greenfield. Mass has said he wants the ban to appear on the ballot on the November mayoral election.
“I am very interested to let voters who have said ‘no’ to have the option to say ‘yes’ before we shove things down their throats,” Mass said previously.
City Council President Karen “Rudy” Renaud and Vice President Penny Ricketts have said they feel it is time to vote on the ordinance as a council at the January council meeting.
Ricketts said she originally opposed the ban, but has come around as communities around the state have come around to it, including Boston.
“I am finally a ‘yes’ vote now, but it’s only because I’m making a compromise,” Ricketts said recently. There have been changes in the way the law will be enforced, how much and what could be taxed, including paper bags.
Separately, Ricketts has suggested a special election in late March or early April to decide the library. There could also be a special election somewhere between April and June regarding a potential recall of Precinct 1 Councilor Verne Sund, if the petitioners are able to collect enough signatures, but this is separate, as well.
Renaud said she would like to keep the plastic bag ban vote for the council at this meeting, and not place it on a special election ballot or on the ballot in the November election.
You can reach Joshua Solomon at:
jsolomon@recorder.com
413-772-0261, ext. 264