The council may vote on the ordinance at its May 26 meeting. On Tuesday night, the council debated whether the ordinance would help the city improve its recycling and reduce the amount of trash the city is sending to the Frederick County landfill.

Thurmont improved its recycling rate from 15 percent to 30 percent when mandatory recycling was imposed last year, said David Dunn, Brunswick city administrator. Brunswick has modeled its proposed mandatory recycling ordinance on Thurmont 's.

"Mandatory recycling is one way to decrease tipping fees," said Councilman Tom Smith. "Mandatory is just a word. Whether you like the term mandatory or not, it's coming."

Mandatory recycling likely wouldn't bring about fines, Mayor Carroll Jones said. It would most likely be about education first. Chronic abusers would be given warnings.

"If I see a bag of beer bottles, I'm going to leave it," said Bob Clark of Key Sanitation, which does the trash hauling and recycling for Brunswick residents.

The city's residents generate an average of 40 pounds of trash per week, or about 1 ton per year, Clark said.

"If we've got to say mandatory, I don't see any downside to it," Councilman Jeremy Biser said.

Councilwoman Karin Tome advocates a pay-as-you-throw trash collection system. She said she doesn't like the word mandatory and prefers to educate residents about recycling.

"Why can't we educate them at the same time?" Biser asked.

"We are trying to reduce the refuse stream," Smith said.

Water request

The council denied a request for a water hookup allocation by Ronald and Gwen Hahn of Knoxville. The Frederick County Health Department advised the couple to ask for the hookup because their well has failed several times.

The Hahns live on Knoxville Road outside Brunswick . They have gone through four well pumps, and their well has collapsed.

The health department told the Hahns there is no room to drill a well on their property.

Brunswick is embroiled in a dispute with the neighboring village of Rosemont to continue providing water to 79 Rosemont households. These households have been receiving water from Brunswick 's waterlines since the 1940s.

Because Rosemont is a municipality, Brunswick claims Rosemont is responsible for providing water to its residents. Rosemont claims it is too small and cannot afford its own water system. The issue has gone to Frederick County Circuit Court, with the first hearing scheduled for Aug. 19.

"I don't see how we can vote to approve it (the Hahns' water hookup request) based on current litigation," Biser said.

James R. Castle, the city's development review coordinator, said state officials could compel Brunswick to issue the Hahns a water hookup. The city attorney recommended the request be denied.

"I respect the guy's situation," Smith said. "I think it would be highly foolish of us to go against the attorney's recommendation."

The council's vote to deny the request was unanimous.

Post your comments » Residents turn out in support of sheriff, staff after federal lawsuit filed Dozens of residents turned up Thursday at a restaurant to express their support for Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins as he prepares to defend himself and two deputies in a federal lawsuit. Caterer charged with DUI; police deliver lunch Talk about fast food. Fire and police blotter Traffic stop leads to arrests City passes speed camera ordinance Smile, speeders. You'll soon be on camera. Convicted murderer requests new trial A man who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the bludgeoning death of his friend will protest his conviction in a hearing five months from now.