It was a contentious day in Hamden, the first day the new budget went into effect.
13 town employees are now out of jobs. Also, the town ice rink and transfer station closed.
One by one, trucks loaded with garbage showed up to the transfer center on Wintergreen Avenue only to be turned away.
"It’s going to hurt me now," said Steve Papt, who had a truck full of leaves to drop off. "I don’t know what I’m going to do with my trash."
The United Public Service Union claims that the layoffs of town employees were illegal. Regional Director Wayne Gilbert says the transfer station and the ice ink will now be managed by sub-contractors that are "friends" of town officials.
Mayor Scott Jackson denied the claims and said that the changes in the budget will end up saving the town hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Late Thursday, the town decided to reopen the transfer station until they reach an agreement with the sub-contractor or they reach an agreement with the labor union. Mayor Jackson said the decision was made after people illegally dumped garbage in front of the gates at the transfer station.
Local
The labor union says that they will fight the layoffs in court
