TWINSBURG – Despite one Councilman’s attempt to seek bids for a new trash/recycling collection contract, the city will stick with Waste Management when the new contract period begins April 1, 2022.
At Council’s Nov. 9 meeting, Sam Scaffide moved to seek bids from companies willing to provide the service to nearly 8,000 locations in the city, but his proposal failed in a 4-3 vote.
Scaffide, Bill Furey and Daisy Walker favored seeking bids, while Greg Bellan, Scott Barr, Karen Labbe and Maureen Stauffer opposed.
At Council sessions in recent months, Scaffide raised concerns about WM’s service after he said he had received complaints from residents in certain areas of Ward 1.
“The city pays the company $1.4 million a year, and I don’t think we’re getting our money’s worth,” he said at one meeting. “The company needs to step up working on these problems. I’m tired of hearing excuses.”
At the same meeting, Mayor Ted Yates responded the city had received a letter from WM pointing out issues such as COVID-19 safety and staffing. “The company is dealing with the same staffing issues that many other companies are dealing with,” he said.
“I think it’s our fiduciary responsibility to seek bids,” said Scaffide. “We’ve contracted with WM for 10 years and haven’t sought bids during that time. We have a window of opportunity now, so let’s take advantage of it.”
“It’s a risk to go out for bids,” she said. “It’s not a guarantee that we’ll get a cheaper rate.”
The current contract states it “shall automatically be extended for successive one-year terms unless either party notifies the other in writing, not less than 60 days prior to the expiration of the current term, of its intent to terminate the contract.”
Currently, the city pays WM $9.82 per month per housing unit for trash collection and $3 per month per unit for recycling pickup for a monthly cost of $51.76 per ton.
Finance director Sarah Buccigross said the city and WM have yet to negotiate new rates, which would commence April 1, 2022.
LEGISLATIVE ACTS
Council authorized the mayor to enter into a memorandum of understanding with International Association of Firefighters Local 3630 regarding wages and holiday pay.
The MOU is designed to establish a compensation path for recently hired firefighters and in turn lock in the annual wage adjustment for 2023 and 2024 at 2 percent, plus recognize all national holidays in the contract.
Members adopted a non-discrimination policy which is in compliance with standard operating procedures of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is required for receipt of federal funds.
Moved to third reading were amendments to Chapter 1321 of the city’s ordinances governing the enforcement responsibilities and duties/guidelines of the architectural review board, which haven’t been updated in years.
OTHER BUSINESS
A representative from U.S. Rep. David Joyce’s office presented U.S. flags which have flown over the Capitol to several Council members.
Public works director Chris Campbell reported the city “is making great progress” with Ohio Edison on fixing street light outages. He said branch chipping has ended for the year, but leaf pickup is continuing.
Fire Chief Tim Morgan reported the department responded to 292 calls for service in October. The total calls for 2021 through October was 2,739, a 13 percent increase over 2020.
Police Chief Tom Mason reported police have handled 24,692 calls so far in 2021, and his officers conducted a traffic stop recently which resulted in the apprehension of a suspect in a Garfield Heights homicide.
“Garfield’s police chief was impressed with the job our officers did,” he said. “It’s important to recognize efforts such as this.”
