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Town of Aurora | Town Board Meeting | July 27, 2026 A meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Aurora took place on Monday, July 27, 2026, beginning at 6:30 PM. The Board met in-person at the Aurora Municipal Center, 575 Oakwood Avenue, East Aurora, New York. The meeting was live streamed via YouTube. Present: Jessica Armbrust Councilmember Benjamin Garvey Councilmember Joseph McCann Deputy Supervisor Charles D. Snyder Supervisor Raymond Wrazen Councilmember Excused: Brigid Maloney Town Attorney Others Present: Chris Musshafen Recreation Director David Gunner Highway Superintendent Douglas Crow Planning Board Chairperson Patrick Welch Chief of Police Paul Ernst Zoning Board Chairperson Elizabeth Cassidy Code Enforcement Officer Rodney Simeone Zoning Board Member Supervisor Snyder opened the meeting at 6:30 PM with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Before moving into the Waste Management Informational Session, Supervisor Snyder took a moment to review the process for referring to Town officials and staff with their title versus their first name so that anyone attending or accessing the YouTube stream understands who is being addressed. WASTE MANAGEMENT INFORMATIONAL SESSION Blair Lakso, Waste Management Representative presented the Town’s transition to automated trash and recycling collection. Each residence will initially receive a 96-gallon trash tote and a 96-gallon recycling tote. Trash will be collected weekly, recycling every other week, and up to three bulk items will be collected during a designated week each month. Bulk items should generally weigh no more than 100 pounds, measure no more than four feet in any direction, and be manageable by two employees. Residents may request a 64- gallon tote after a three-month trial period. Lakso said the exact delivery date had not yet been confirmed, but distribution should take five or six days once it begins. Residents will receive an informational flyer before delivery explaining collection days, bulk collection, tote placement, and acceptable trash and recycling. Waste Management will also establish a dedicated Town of Aurora webpage where residents can enter their address to find service information. The automated system is intended to improve employee safety, reduce missed collections, keep trash contained, discourage animals, increase recycling, and improve visibility during snowstorms. Waste Management will repair or replace damaged company-issued totes. The company also plans to provide the Town with delivery, waste, and recycling tonnage reports following implementation. Questions and Comments from the Town Supervisor, Board Members & Town Clerk Several questions were asked related to: the rollout date, long driveways, snowbanks, tote placement, bulk limits, old garbage cans, extra totes, communications, costs, recycling results, missed pickups, and the handling of appliances containing refrigerant. Lakso replied that residents with long driveways may leave totes near the road and carry individual bags to them or use available towing attachments. Waste Management prefers approximately four feet of clearance from vehicles, mailboxes, and other totes, but drivers can work with tighter conditions when necessary. Totes may be placed on a packed or lowered snowbank if accessible to the collection arm. Regarding appliances containing refrigerant, Lakso said residents should have the refrigerant removed and the appliance marked as such. Waste Management can arrange proper removal when it collects an unmarked appliance, but it cannot control appliances taken by private scrappers before collection. Deputy Supervisor McCann requested a follow up discussion on preventing the improper release of refrigerant. Old garbage cans may be repurposed, recycled when appropriate, or placed out as bulk if clearly labeled. Store-bought cans and similar looking totes cannot be used with the new automated trucks because the hydraulic arms could damage them. Waste Management indicated that one additional tote would likely be available through coordination with the Town, although those details and many other details of the general rollout were still being developed. Waste Management said automation will reduce the amount of the annual contract increase. A 4% increase was referenced during the discussion, and Lakso said the company would not pass through an additional 2027 recycling adjustment. Waste Management is also investing in new totes and automated trucks, including two side-loading collection vehicles costing approximately $543,000 each. Town Resident Comments Tom Cotton: Asked how the new program would affect brush, lawn waste, small construction debris, extra garbage, and unwanted cans. Lakso said dried grass and similar material may be placed in the trash tote. Larger yard debris and small pieces of wood may be placed out during the monthly bulk week. An unwanted can may be collected as bulk if clearly labeled. Lakso said an additional trash tote was expected to be available through the Town. 1