Brockton Council Deadlocks 4-4, Killing $130 Quarterly Trash Fee Hike

BROCKTON -- May 5, 2026, Brockton City Council deadlocks 4-to-4 on a $130 quarterly trash fee, killing the measure. The May 5 council meeting saw the refuse-fee ordinance, which would have billed residents $520 annually, fail ordination after Councilors Azak, Lally, Nicastro, and Thompson voted yes while Councilors Farwell, Rippin, Green, and Tavares voted no. Council President declared the result twice from the chair: "The ordinance vote went 4 to 4. It did not receive a favorable vote. The ordinance fails ordination." The council did pass four other ordinances, including a 6-to-1 vote to set a three-year term for the Director of Planning and Economic Development and a unanimous 8-to-0 vote updating Problem Properties Task Force regulations. Seven Chapter 44 budget transfers totaling $484,538.04, covering department overtime shortfalls and a $116,538.04 payment to Bristol Agricultural School, were referred to Finance, as was an order authorizing a perpetual utility easement across DW Field Park for Massachusetts Electric Company and Verizon New England.