Hamilton mayor talks wastewater treatment bypasses, vaccine mandate for City employees

Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger spoke with the Morning Live team Monday and provided an update on what is happening in the city.

Eisenberger said the city is planning for possible HSR service disruptions when the COVID-19 vaccine mandate takes effect this week.

The HSR said it expects up to 10 per cent of bus operators will not meet the city-implemented requirement that all municipal workers must be either fully vaccinated by Nov. 1 or receive regular COVID-19 tests.

Starting Thursday, all city employees who have not submitted proof of two doses of the COVID-19 vaccination will enter the city’s COVID-19 Rapid Testing Program.

“If they fail to do that, they’re going to be put on unpaid leave and that may affect the transit system,” Eisenberger said. “We’ll adjust accordingly and back-fill wherever we can and make sure that we get as many of our schedules operating as we possibly can to account for that staffing shortfall if it comes to pass.”

The transit provider’s plan will include prioritizing service at the start and end of the day to ensure customers can get where they need to go, identifying high-frequency routes that may be modified where required and continuously monitoring affected routes to protect service.

Eisenberger provided an update on the city’s wastewater treatment bypasses as well.

“With the heavy rain flows that does cause us to do some bypassing, which is the way the system is set up. If we don’t do the bypassing, then things start to back up into people’s basements.”

The mayor also reminded Hamiltonians of the best way to put out their garbage following some confusion.

Eisenberger said garbage bins can have a lid on them but they should not be locked or have bungee cords on them.