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.