After a misunderstanding regarding the removal of Lansford Alive-donated trash cans in town, the community organization offered to pay for half the cost of new receptacles the borough is purchasing.

The borough, however, already has a sponsor, its Council President Bruce Markovich said.

Lansford Alive member Bob Silver addressed council Wednesday night, reading a memo from the organization’s board of directors with the offer to help fund new trash cans.

“Lansford Alive placed litter barrels in the business district 20 years ago and over the years has both painted and replaced some of them, as needed,” Silver said.

“With the borough moving to improve and expand the placement of trash receptacles in the town, we would be proud to assist with a donation of 50% of the cost of the new receptacles, payable upon their arrival,” he said.

With the financial support, the organization asked that it be allowed to commission and place professionally-rendered Lansford Alive logos decals on the new receptacles, Silver said.

“We hope that council will move to accept and approve this good faith gesture, as Lansford Alive tries to stand shoulder to shoulder with council on this improvement that we believe benefits all,” he said.

“Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to exploring additional ways Lansford Alive can collaborate with the council in the revitalization of our business district,” Silver said.

Several council members immediately thanked Silver and the organization for the offer to help fund the purchase of the 24 receptacles at cost of about $3,800, which council had considered using a matching grant to buy.

That’s when Markovich said the borough has another offer.

“I have an organization that is going to pay for all the receptacles,” he said. “It’s not going to cost us anything.”

Silver said that Lansford Alive would still like to place its decals on the new receptacles, and Markovich and Councilwoman Gwyneth Collevechio said they can talk to the organization, which was not named.

Markovich said the offer came on Tuesday. A week earlier, Christopher Ondrus, Lansford Alive’s president, questioned the removal of red, metal trash cans that the organization donated from the business district during council’s committee meetings.

He wanted to know why the borough didn’t let the organization know about any issues or their removal beforehand.

Council Vice President Jay Doyle said that he removed them, because people were loading them with household trash and other items, such as dog waste and diapers. The borough crews also emptied the cans, he said.

Doyle also explained that the borough ordered new trash receptacles that had lids and could be mounted to the sidewalk.

Ondrus explained that the red trash cans were one of the group’s first service projects, and they continued to paint and replace cans over of the years as needed.

“You’re saying that they’re Lansford Alive’s?” Doyle asked. “So, you guys want to empty them every time then?”

Ondrus said they were looking for a compromise, as the organization didn’t know there was an issue with the cans, and would be willing to get lids for the cans.

Doyle told Ondrus that the borough is replacing the red cans with better, larger cans, but if they want he can put the red cans back and Lansford Alive can empty them.

Lansford Alive member Joe Genits called Doyle’s comment “asinine,” as the organization donated the cans to the borough.

Doyle criticized the Lansford Alive’s trash cans, which he said were in disrepair and disgusting, but he did apologize to the group for not reaching out before removing the cans, as he assumed they belonged to the borough.

Markovich noted that it’s the borough’s trash hauler’s responsibility to empty the trash cans in town, and Councilwoman Michele Bartek said that they do use the red cans, especially when there are special events in the park.

Doyle said that the red cans are in the borough garage, if the organization wants them.

“You’re more than welcome to take them, but I was just trying to make it look a little better than what is there now,” he said.