Problems with trash collection at the Flint House in Scotia have led the president of Friends of the Flint House to create a video, which is posted online at youtube.com, titled Friends of The Flint House Massacre.
In the video, a song detailing Cindi Pytlovany’s version of the events that led her to drop off a bag of garbage at the Department of Public Works, plays over still images of the Flint House.
Pytlovany was initially charged with a violation-level offense of public dumping for the stunt, but the village eventually agreed to drop the charges.
Tom Cushing, head of the Department of Public Works, deferred all questions about the garbage-dumping incident to the mayor.
The Flint House was donated to the village and is cared for by the volunteer group Friends of the Flint House, but problems have been brewing over who should provide maintenance and garbage removal.
`They [village officials] accepted this house and property as a gift to be used for parkland and museum purposes. The standards by which they are maintaining it are wrong. All we asked was trash and yard waste be picked up,` said Pytlovany.
Mayor Kris Kastberg said that the village has responded in the past to many of the requests of the Friends of The Flint House, including a septic problem that was fixed. He said the village never refused to pick up garbage, it was more of an issue of it not being on a regular pick-up day.
He added that the village has a lot of parkland, and that the parks department depends mostly on two employees.
`I think it’s more of a problem over the pace that things get done,` said Kastberg.
Kastberg said that the town does mow the lawn and remove garbage but does not stop at that location regularly because it does not accumulate enough trash. Pytlovany argues that she was assured earlier this month that garbage would be picked up, but was later told otherwise.
`When the Flint House liaison asked Jim Marx, the head of the Parks Department, if the Flint House was on the pick-up schedule, she was told we were not,` said Pytlovany. `That led to a meeting with the mayor and the Friends of the Flint House. We thought that we might have reached some agreements with the village, but ‘after further thought’ some of the terms were changed.`
Pytlovany said members of the Friends of the Flint House met late last week and decided to dissolve the all-volunteer group because they believe village officials do not appreciate their efforts.
Pytlovany’s husband, Bill Pytlovany, has also decided to step down from his position as park board commissioner, citing problems with working with the village over Collins Park.
`The last straw for him was my arrest. He has resigned from his position,` said Pytlovany.
The Friends of the Flint House formed three years ago, and since that time they have obtained almost $50,000 in grants, parkland funds and donations. The Flint House is most often used for festivals and children’s events that include crafts, storytelling and historical exhibits.
The village board and parks committee will meet next month to find a replacement for Bill Pytlovany as park board commissioner.
To view the video `Friends of the Flint House Massacre,` go online to www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtqYXrzSc0M.“