January 17, 2008
To the Editor:
There is a reason many people are upset with the town’s proposal for Municipal Garbage Collection.
I work as a construction manager in environmental remediation, creating specifications and receiving bids for hazardous and non-hazardous waste transportation and disposal. I read that the cost from the bidding vendor would be the same for two pick ups per week as one. If I received a bid with that statement it would raise concern as I know the major costs (excluding disposal) associated with the task are manpower, equipment and fuel. As a manager I would ask the vendor to explain.
It’s admirable that council wants to save citizens money. But the “all or nothing” approach will not work as is evident by the opposition. It will cost many people much more then they are now paying. A municipal trash utility provides income to the town, but the opt out condition must apply as it does with the water utility.
If we are to move forward the council should withdraw the request for bids and re-write the specification based on an estimated number of participants, then invite the current and new vendors to bid.
