Bag Ban Not In The Bag

Jackson’s long-anticipated bag ban is not in the bag yet. After much discussion from the floor Monday night along the same lines that council has heard through the previous readings, council voted 3 to 1 to wait until January 7thto make the final decision when the newly-elected town council members are sworn in. At issue with those opposed to the ban is how such a ban would financially impact those small businesses in town including what to do with their unused stock of plastic bags – a concern Councilman Don Frank agreed needs to be addressed. Frank told the council and audience, “I haven’t heard a small retailer say that they are comfortable; and I don’t know – wedon’t know – how many small retailers… are going to be caught between our very, very good intentions (intentions I support) to reduce plastic bag use and waste and a real financial loss if they haven’t exhausted the bags that they have on hand.” While reluctant to postpone the matter, Mayor Pete Muldoon told the audience that postponing the final disposition of the ordinance will enable more public concerns to be heard and considered.

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