The City of Aberdeen wants to limit how much businesses can profit from selling the city's unique trash and recycling stickers.
"Some merchants have been selling those at a substantial profit, which we do not think is appropriate," City Manager Doug Miller told city council members before they introduced legislation Monday that would limit the resale price of a sticker to 10 percent above its face value.
"We are the only municipality in Maryland that has a 'pay as you throw' program, via sticker," Miller noted.
City residents must buy stickers for trash containers to cover the cost of the county-imposed tipping fee at the county landfill. Purple stickers cost 50 cents and cover up to 20 gallons or 20 pounds of trash, while yellow stickers cost $1 and cover up to 32 gallons or 40 pounds of trash.
Residents can buy the stickers at city hall and area stores like 7-Eleven and ShopRite.
Miller said he wants the city to create a licensing program in which businesses can add a "modest processing fee."
"This brings it in, gives us a little more control," Miller said about the proposed legislation.
He added that the sticker initiative "has been a highly successful program overall. We just have to fine-tune the sale of stickers."
The bill also states that commercial establishments must apply for a license to sell or distribute the stickers, which includes an agreement to not charge more than 10 percent above the sticker's face value and to only sell stickers to owners of structures with three units or fewer.
The bill would forbid counterfeit stickers and anyone who violates the legislation could be fined $100 for the first offense and $250 for each subsequent offense. Anyone who knowingly sells, distributes or uses a counterfeit sticker, or who resells a sticker in excess of the stated price, would also be subject to a $1,000 fine.
The bill will be up for a public hearing. The next County Council meeting is scheduled for March 23.
Ripken-area development
Also at Monday's meeting, the council introduced a bill that would revise the city's Integrated Business District, the area west of the I-95 interchange near Ripken Stadium and University Center, formerly the HEAT Center.
The bill would require medium-density, single-family residential development along the Route 22 area, mandate minimum setbacks and limit height to 40 feet for buildings facing Route 22, as well as 80 feet for other buildings in the district.
The legislation would also add an extensive list of uses that would be allowed in the IBD district, including car repair shops, day spas, pharmacies, veterinary clinics, public utilities, athletic facilities, stadiums and commercial amusement facilities or sports camps.
Planning and Community Development Director Phyllis Grover noted the changes were recommended by the city planning commission.