×

Council committee looks at single trash hauler again

SALEM — The idea of a single trash hauler to serve city residents will be discussed again at a Committee of the Whole meeting later this month.

Council members had a choice at Tuesday’s meeting: send the proposed contract to the law director, which they could then vote whether to submit for bids, or discuss the issue further at a committee meeting.

They chose the latter, defeating the idea of sending it directly to the law director now in a 3-4 vote, and voting 6-1 for another discussion. A meeting will be scheduled in a couple of weeks.

Councilman Andrew Null brought up the single trash hauler issue, saying some residents had asked him about it, so he asked Mayor John Berlin where it stood and whether there were any thoughts of going forward.

A survey of residents last year indicated the majority of those responding wanted a single trash hauler program that could offer a number of different services, including curbside recycling. The mayor and city Service/Safety Director Ken Kenst had researched contracts from cities with single trash hauler programs, but nothing had gone forward.

Berlin said if council wanted him to forward a proposed contract to the law director for him to review and prepare in ordinance form, he could do that. He also suggested sending it out for bid to see what comes back, noting that could answer a lot of questions regarding price and services.

He said council would not necessarily have to award the contract, which city Law Director Brooke Zellers confirmed, but this way they would have the information needed to make a decision.

Null said it would be prudent to at least send the information out, which could gather more information in return for the council members.

Berlin said if there were objections, he wanted to know now before having the law director do all that work.

Councilwoman Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey said she’s not for a single trash hauler, saying people in her Fourth Ward want to keep their choice. She voted against both options laid before council, to send a contract proposal to the law director or hold a committee meeting. Dickey chairs the Committee of the Whole.

Councilman Sal Salvino said this issue came as a surprise to him at the meeting and he preferred having a Committee of the Whole meeting for discussion. Salvino, and Councilmen Roy Paparodis and Dennis Plegge voted against going to the law director immediately, but supported the committee meeting, along with Null and Councilmen Steve Faber and Ron Kellers, who supported going to the law director.

mgreier@salemnews.net

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today