Possible money saver on trash hauling contract, please call the Town Manager at 271-6660
As I explained yesterday, several Council members are vehemently opposed to issuing a bid for anything other than a one year contract with manual collection. And since the rhetoric has gotten quite heated since Tuesday's Council meeting, I thought I should offer the comments that spoke most clearly for me.
Tom Ruocco offered this in an email with quotes from the Feb 10 Council meeting minutes:
There was little discussion about a contract term, but I think the clearest message came from Michael, as stated below:
"Town Manager Milone commented on some of the questions and gave some history on the issue. Relative to a one year contract, the concern is there will be a more competitive rate going out 3 to 5 years, and with one year it is unlikely there will be a proposal on the toters. With the automated process there is significant up front capital cost and the hauler will want a long term relationship with the community if they invest that much money. With a one year contract out to bid it is unlikely there would be a competitive price because there is no guarantee to the hauler that it would continue the service."
Later in the meeting:
"Mr. Milone said if anything is done, it should be a long term contract because a one year contract will not provide the most competitive figure needed."
(You can see most of the video of this discussion by clicking here)
For me, this begs the question:
Why is the Solid Waste Chair, Matt Altieri, opposed to simply issuing a bid for one, three and five years contracts?
I'm 100% agreeable to keeping it simple and skipping the idea of automated collection. But all options are being rejected.
Again, why?
Of course, we may never know why. But there is something I request you do.
If you are concerned about your taxes and don't want to spend money unnecessarily, then call the Town Manager's office (271-6660) as soon as possible. Ask him to convey your concerns to the Council that - in an effort to save money - we should keep our options open and expand the bid from
a request for manual trash collection for one year
to also include
requests for manual trash collection for three years and five years.
I'm uncertain if this will have any impact, but considering the above comments... if you have the time... I feel a quick phone call is worthwhile. Or perhaps an email to the TM and Solid Waste Committee members:
dolphinlaurad@yahoo.com
timwhite98@yahoo.com
maltieri@cox.net
mmilone@cheshirect.org
Perhaps you could forward this to your Cheshire friends and suggest they also take action?
Keep in mind that time is of the essence.
Tim White
Remember, it was only 16 phone calls that got former Councilwoman Elizabeth Esty to change her mind on senior tax relief!
50 comments:
Tim,
Is it true that no residents attended the last TC meeting on the 24th? I watched while Henry panned the "crowd" and I thought I heard a flatulent cricket, is this true?
MJR
Let me see if I understand. First, some years ago the mob infiltrated the trash haulers. The trash haulers all but eliminated fair competition and jacked up prices to all of us.
None of our local officials and watch dogs figured it out. The Feds figured it out and one town resident now lives in federal custody.
Fast forward till today. Our Republican minority seems to want the town to obtain long term and short term bids for hauling services so that the town can get a, least cost, good deal going forward.
However, for some reason the democrat majority is now standing in the way of an all out open bidding process which would find the best deal for town residents.
Maybe in addition to a call to the TM there should be another call to the Feds!
MJR... aside from TC, BOE and staff members...
I recall three people being there.
7:28 This is very frustrating. I don't understand the resistance. But if you or your friends want to keep down taxes n spending, please call or email the TM and / or SW committee members.
Face it, Turf Head is not concerned with saving money. He wants AJ to have the one year and that's why he doesn't want to put out a 5 year bid. He must be getting his orders from the Dem chairman.
He knows no one othe than AJ will bid on a 1 yr.
I believe the democrats, 2/3 of the solid waste committee, and the town manager tried to keep the cost down by recomending AJ's initial offer. The same offer that other towns and trash haulers said was a good deal and we should jump on it.
MJR - Actually, Bonnie Wallinger was in the crowd (or lack of) and she left in the middle because she couldnt stand to hear Tim talk any longer. She was the one that slammed the door. (Mr. Milone and various members of the council noticed this and silently agreed)
7:28 - How is someone going to figure out that the "Mob" is running the trash business? Too bad Tim wasnt leading this town a century ago so he could go knock on their door and ask "are you the mafia?" What are you going to tell the "Feds?" That the metropolous of Cheshire CT is upset in 2009 that we were recently told that the garbage industy has mob influences? The FBI is going to need a little more than an arguement in a counciler's blog to even mention it at the water cooler.
To everyone else: - I would recomend penning your thoughts on paper or email rather than calling the town manager. As a tax payer, I am more upset at the thought of people wasting Mr. Milones time with this childish B.S. Send him a note and let him read it on his break. (than he can practice his jump shot when he files them in the cylendical filing cabinet)
P.S. - who is "Turf Head"?
lol...turf head is Altieri...getting an artificial turf field at CHS seems to be his goal in life.
It's a shame that Ms. Wallinger would be so rude as to disrupt the meeting that way.
Not a good way for a "professional" business person who wants to do business for this town to act.
It's also a shame that she doesn't want to listen to Tim, the only credible person on the TC.
You may not like what he has to say, but what he says is a lot more than what the others do.
Mr. DeVylder Jr.,get off your high horse.
Come clean with your true relationship with the DeVylders.
Robert, though you insist on unnecessarily berating me, I let it fly. I don't take it personally. Furthermore, as far as I know, you're a newcomer to this blog... so here are the rules.
Berating others gets your comments deleted.
I believe the democrats, 2/3 of the solid waste committee, and the town manager tried to keep the cost down by recomending AJ's initial offer. The same offer that other towns and trash haulers said was a good deal and we should jump on it.
Which towns, which trash haulers and when / where did they say this?
Tim
We know he must have an agenda, that's why he is monitoring this.
It amazes me that he still calss himself a Republican when all he wants to do is spend without getting bids.
You are doing the right thing!
Meriden Record Journal
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Page 21 - "Waiver of trash contract bid fails in tied council vote" Paragraph 10:
"DeCaprio was disappointed that the price offered by AJ Waste was turned down. She said the information given the company's owner, Bonnie Wallinger, about the increasing price of recyclables was verified by other companies and there was little possiblitiy of a better deal."
How many times must I show this to you before it sinks in?
I make one comment about one poster (who everyone believes is you) and you delete it. Look how many negative posts are here about me and you leave them up. I think I am argueing my point with the same person 6 times.
I am "monitoring" this now more than ever because "two-faced" Tim is obsessed with bidding the trash hauling contract but appears to be ok with the board of Ed asking to grant a 5 year bid extension to DATTCO without question. Maybe the council should look at all of the other no-bid contracts that are out there and make sure that they are done correctly before this bites them in the ass.
"I know some of you like to vent... and that's not necessarily bad, but perhaps I'll be looser with the rules... if you include your name."
STICK TO YOUR OWN RULES TWO-FACED TIM! I'VE BEEN HAMMERED ON THIS BLOG BY PEOPLE WHO DO NOT POST THEIR NAMES. STICK TO THE RULES YOU SET.
DeCaprio was disappointed that the price offered by AJ Waste was turned down. She said the information given the company's owner, Bonnie Wallinger, about the increasing price of recyclables was verified by other companies and there was little possiblitiy of a better deal
My sense is that the sentence should have been worded like this:
"...about the increasing price of recyclables was verified by other companies. Decaprio continued that she felt there was little possibility of a better deal."
I don't recall any conversation in which any other towns or companies verified that "there was little possiblitiy of a better deal."
But I can see how you take that from the quote.
who everyone believes is you
huh? Are you saying that I'm posting these comments anonymously? (Not true.)
And who is "everyone?"
Look how many negative posts are here about me and you leave them up.
It was the language you were using. Clean up the language and it'd probably be ok.
Additionally, please respond to my email.
VERIFIED BY OTHER COMPANIES
how the hell do you misinterprate that?
Also, taking down my post, a post that I posted my name on, doesnt that violate my freedom of speach?
Maybe "two-faced" Tim is a little soft, how does Dictator Tim sound?
Tim is obsessed with bidding the trash hauling contract but appears to be ok with the board of Ed asking to grant a 5 year bid extension to DATTCO without question
Without question? During the meeting I tried to determine how recent the 10% contracts were bid and awarded. And I didn't say I was going to waive the bid, so why do you say it appears that way?
how the hell do you misinterprate that?
DeCaprio was disappointed that the price offered by AJ Waste was turned down. She said:
1) the information given the company's owner, Bonnie Wallinger, about the increasing price of recyclables was verified by other companies and
2) there was little possiblitiy of a better deal.
Same words. Just different punctuation. But a potentially different meaning.
Mr. DeVyder:
Again, I am doing this anonymously, but I assure you this is not Tim.
You seem to have problems with those of us who leave anonymous posts. That is okay, but it doesn't mean that our thoughts and explantions are any less than yours.
You do have an agenda, and that is name calling.
It sounds like you may be throwing your hat into the politacal ring. Good Luck!
I can't wait until the questions come your way about your dealings with the Wallingers and will you be truthful?
As a long time resident of this town, I can't believe that there are other residents of this town who would want to take deals from companies without competitive bidding, especially those whose past shows that they were involved in price fixing.
You are not winning any votes here, you are actually looking quite foolish with your comments and name calling.
AGAIN--THIS IS NOT TIM!
DJW
OBSERVATION & QUESTION:
What is the value of the statement by bidder, AJ Carting, verifying and thereby endorsing their best pricing with other unnamed "non-bidders". This is hardly verifible unless you reason like Laura DeCaprio. I thought bidders weren't supposed to be comparing notes. Oh right...this was bid waiver so the opinions of competitors are completely credible.
DJW - apparently you have not read any of the other forums or you would already know my association with the Wallinger family.
I have NO interest in being involved with town politics. I have enough on my plate to serve me for the next few years so EVERYONE can take that out of their minds.
Call me foolish, call me childish, call me what you want. I don't care. I've been called worse by people with the balls enough to say it to my face. I honestly could not stand to serve as a councilor or on a committee with someone who changes his story more than his underware. Tim, tell the truth about the phone call you made 2 minutes after my first post. Tell everyone or I will. Let everyone know about your flip-flop. I don't mind, I am willing to tell everyone.
And the person at 11:15, you are right, the bidders should not compare notes. Unfortunatly, AJ Waste's notes were mande public record so all bids should be considered tainted. I can only take Ms. DiCaprio's statement as printed and confirmed by the councillor.
Tim - With some creative punctuation, I can change the Constitution of the United States into a creative nursery rhyme. As proven in court over the last 300 years, it's up to interpritaion as read. There is no in depth reading, just what it says.
As far as responding to E-mail, until you can prove that you are not posting anonymously, I have to assume that the posts calling for the investigation of other council members and the town manager are made by you. Put a name to the post and I will appologize. In other words, follow your own rules and have you reader do the same.
2007 - DATTCO driver arrested for Sexual Assault on a minor. 2008 - City of Middletown CT residents wanted to fire DATTCO over child safety concerns. 2004- Attempted fraud and theft from the residents of Durham CT. (WOW! Want my kids riding with them. AJ doesnt look so bad now, does he? Google Dattco before throwing me under the bus.. hehe)
F.Y.I. - there are numerous companies that have taken money from this town for decades without bidding. AND some of the people taking the money have been here longer than the town borders.
Wow, you really have some serious issues DeVylder.
I may have missed your relationship with the Wallingers, so why not explain it here?
You are obvioulsy very biased.
You also are new to this blog and probably don't realize how many people in this town actually read and participate in it.
Tim is not afraid to put his name to comments. Why don't you belive that there are MANY people in this town who agree with Tim and don't like the way the majority is running the council.
Call me foolish, call me childish, call me what you want
Okay, you are foolish and childish!
No need to worry about you ever serving o the TC, I can't believe you would even find a handful of people to support you.
How you run a business in this town with an attitude like yours is amazing.
How can you prove a negative? -- ie: how could Tim or anyone else ever prove that they didn't make an anonymous post? No one can, so Mr. DeVylder's charge is specious.
This board, like most on the internet, allows comments by anonymous and pseudonymed posters. If you choose to post with your real name, fine, but don't impute others for doing what is common on discussion boards.
If you don't like the rules of this board which allow anonymous responses to your charges, then don't post here. Find another forum which does not allow anonymous comments.
Did it ever occur to you that Tim White doesn't need to make anonymous comments? -- that plenty of people, including myself, actually agree with him on many issues and are more than happy to express that agreement?
Tim, tell the truth about the phone call you made 2 minutes after my first post.
huh? I'm not sure what you want me to explain.
I can only take Ms. DiCaprio's statement as printed and confirmed by the councillor.
Perhaps you have some information of which I'm unaware. Which companies confirmed there was little possibility of getting a better trash hauling deal? And for clarity, was the confirmation about all trash hauling or just the recycling component (10-20% of the contract)?
Wow - -it is hard to believe there are so any folks living in this town who JUST DON"T GET IT!
We have been cheated big time by a company with a local origin. Their owner is now living rent free in a federal facility providing special housing for those who cannot be trusted to be on their own and free. These are easily verifiable facts available at the state superior court house.
Fast forward to today and in spite of what happened to all the town residents some town residents want the guilty company to be rewarded with a no-cut (woops I mean no-bid) contract extension.
That any local politician would allow this to grow legs and go forward is shameful. The politicians supporting this need to be shown the door.
As for the Wallenger family business, allow it to bid along with everyone else for 5 year contract and make certain there in no more monkey business in the bid process. Make certain the town finds 4 or 5 competitors to bid. And Mr. Devylder, maybe you should take up the study of ethics in modern day America before continuing on your rant.
RE: That any local politician would allow this to grow legs and go forward is shameful. The politicians supporting this need to be shown the door.
When was Mr. Altieri ever ashamed of anything? He's turned Cheshire into a mini Hartford.
..."As for the Wallenger family business, allow it to bid along with everyone else for 5 year contract and make certain there in no more monkey business in the bid process. Make certain the town finds 4 or 5 competitors to bid."
As I said before, Cheshire is not a "business friendly" community.
Former counciller Schrumm requested that the bid specs for the Fire Dept's new engine be as generic as possible. The goal was to try and get more manufacturers to bid on the truck. Unfortunatly, after D/C Youngquist spent many hours pouring over each and every detail of the truck to fullfill the counciler's request, we still only recieved 1 bid. Pierce Mfg was the only bidder as they had been on the past few trucks. D/C Youngquist contacted some of the companies that did not bid and got the run around from everyone. 1 year ago, these companies did not want to do business with Cheshire CT. How do you force people to bid?
I have no problem with putting out a 5 year bid. I only pushed for the extension because the budget had to be done and it was a certain number that Mr. Milone could work with. As we stand, the bids will not be back until after the budget has to be submitted to the council. When the low bid comes in more than expected, what service or department will have to suffer more? Will the board of Ed give up money for trash hauling? Will the town pool foot the bill? Can the senior center spare a bus?
Just to review, AJ Waste took over the trash contract 5 years ago. The town paid AJ $200,000 LESS than we paid the previous year. The yearly increase was still $20,000 less than the next less bid. After 5 years, AJ saved the town $300,000. Over the last 2-3 years, AJ Waste had to pay more to get rid of our recyclables than in previous years. Even with the uncertainty, they proposed less of an increase for 1 year to help propose a working/workable budget.
The service this town recieves from AJ Waste is actually above and beyond what the contract requires. On an almost daily basis, AJ sends a truck out in the afternoon to pickup trash from households that forgot to put their trash out in time. The collectors are courtious and helpful. They will go to the door of people that cannot get their cans to the curb and return them empty. While social services arranges this for some people, they do this for anyone who needs it. These are not contract requirements and they do it because they are good neighbors.
Alot of people are reading too much into AJ Wallinger's problems. AJ was put into a position where he felt his involvment with Mr. Galante was safer than not. I am not saying that I agree with his actions, but I understand that he did what he had to. During Mr. Galante's trial, there were reports of trucks being vandalized, dumpsters being stolen, and offices being broken into if you did not cooperate. Running to the police could result in disapearing.
AJ Wallinger served his time and the personal attacks should stop. His family still lives and works here. They have been through enough in the last 2 years.
Does anyone know how many no bid contracts Cheshire had during the last year?
What about gasoline, heating oil, propane, natural gas, and service contract?
I know of some no-bid contracts that are out there but I am refusing to comment on them. And for the record, I do not have any of them nor have I ever tried to.
Diesel fuel, gasoline and heating oil is supplied by East River Petroleum.
Natural gas is supplied by Yankee Gas.
Most of the heating service work is done by Public Works and I believe White Bowman does the rest.
People that rent town owned homes also pay for their own oil.
F.Y.I.- I have never seen the RFP for oil in this town so I do not know anything else about it.
Maybe the town should follow other towns policy's of posting all RFP's in a local paper for the public to see.
I am reposting this for the people that made this request but never read my response.
"You want me to come clean? O.K. here you go... I know AJ and Bonnie through mutual friends. Before you get the wrong idea, I know them through town business owners, residents and town employees. AJ Waste is a local business that gave us the best price for the services rendered. As I believe the Town Manager and Town Council stated, there have been next to no complaints on their service. For those of you that have moved to town in the last few years, you probably do not remember seeing all of the skid marks in front of every house from the last company sending 1 driver alone on his route. The town roads looked like pit road at Daytona.
AJ Waste and the Wallinger family have been in town longer than most residents. They handled the town trash when the town population was half what it is now.
AJ Waste and the Wallinger family also give alot to this community. Ever go to the Memorial Day parade and see a group of kids riding on the back of one of one of their trucks? They always take a truck off it's route for the annual Touch-a-Truck during April vacation. They sponsor little league teams and Relay for Life. They donate money to the Republican Party."
"Alot of people are reading too much into AJ Wallinger's problems."
Are you nuts??
Actually, most of us could care less about his problems, we are more concerned about giving no-bid contracts to any company.
It is you, DeVylder, who seems to bring it up more than anyone else.
It is you, who compared it to the Sopranos.
Lets take a long hard look at this, you seem to have an agenda and it isn't flying here.
You can stop the personal attacks on Tim and anyone else who feels we should not give a no-bid contract to a business who has a past history of being involved, whether forced or unforced, with organized crime.
Thye may be the company who we should do business with, but we shouldn't be pressured into it.
Get off your high horse DeVylder. Your comments are crude and hold very little weight here.
The funny thing I am seeing here is nobody seems to care about DATTCO requesting a 5 year extension, in esence, a 5 year no-bid contract. They hire child abusers/molesters, try to force contract acceptance, and had parents in an uproar about child safety. Nobody seems to care about the kids.
Thye may be the company who we should do business with, but we shouldn't be pressured into it.
Get off your high horse DeVylder. Your comments are crude and hold very little weight here.
March 01, 2009 11:21 PM
Who is pressuring? My comments are more open minded than most I see here. My "crude" comments are my thoughts and I've been censored by Tim and if they didnt hold any weight, why do people agree with me? And you have to be pretty lazy to ask who agrees. If you have to ask, you havn't been reading anything on this topic.
Devylder 1100 post - - -
Former council member Schrumm did right if he pushed for competitive procurements. If that was not the final outcome of the process maybe there is more going on then meets the eye. We know for a fact that as far as trash hauling bidding and contracts over the past 10 or 15 years the vendors conspired to rig all the bids statewide.
So Devylder, could it be that the trash haulers were not the sharpest tool in the shed and maybe some other industry is playing the same game based on your comments but it just hasn't been caught yet?
Whining about how hard it is to get a set of competitive bids received and evaluated in time to get into out town budget misses the bigger issue. Let's face it, the town spends vast sums of money. Much of it for planned activities. It has been clear for maybe 5 years that the trash contract needed to be renewed via the bid process by now in order to support the budget.
If the town cannot now support the needs of the budget because they have run out of time how about the usual business approach? Find the employees who blew it. Investigate just why they blew it. After all they had about 5 years to get it done. If they don't have a really good excuse how about they just get fired immediately for failure to perform their duties in a timely manner. It is hoped that town personnel policy and labor contracts makes it clear that timely execution of ones duties is a REQUIREMENT for continued employment. And maybe some management needs the same sort of handling since management is paid to be certain avoidable mistakes like this one don't happen.
Most importantly, begin connecting the dots. The picture which immerges associated with activities undertaken by this and many other towns in the region is one of missed opportunity, financial resource waste, and an environment UNFRIENDLY to new business looking for a new home.
"Maybe the town should follow other towns policy's of posting all RFP's in a local paper for the public to see."
Great idea! And, they should also post their intentions to simply continue a contract.
Is White Bowman the only plumbing company in Cheshire and vicinity?
"Is White Bowman the only plumbing company in Cheshire and vicinity?"
No, they are not.
Lets go look at the bidding process for the Norton Boiler and you will see how the democratic majority did all they could to hand that job to them.
Let's not allow the same stupidity to happen again!
"They hire child abusers/molesters, try to force contract acceptance, and had parents in an uproar about child safety."
Unfortunately, this can happen in any industry. What the owners of the company do to change their hiring standards is what we should look at.
I bet if you look at the criminal records of AJ's employees,you may be surprised.
When the owner of a company is sent away for his involvement in price fixing, which would affect all of us, we should look to make sure they have changed.
"They hire child abusers/molesters, try to force contract acceptance, and had parents in an uproar about child safety."
If these complaints came from 1 town only I would lead the lynching, but these are the first 3 complaints I found when I googled them. Cheshire is the only community that is nit-picking AJ Waste's abilities and interests.
"Is White Bowman the only plumbing company in Cheshire and vicinity?"
I am confused if you are asking a question or sarcasticly proving a point. I do not recall anyone else doing plumbing work on town projects.
"I bet if you look at the criminal records of AJ's employees,you may be surprised."
Well, one good indicator would be that they working. The drivers cannot be drug users or they would loose their CDL's. Some crimes would result in the loss of their license.
"We know for a fact that as far as trash hauling bidding and contracts over the past 10 or 15 years the vendors conspired to rig all the bids statewide."
Try since the 1930's and 40's
"So Devylder, could it be that the trash haulers were not the sharpest tool in the shed and maybe some other industry is playing the same game based on your comments but it just hasn't been caught yet?"
Like Madoff, Dennis Kozlowski, Enron and F&S? These are people and companies that towns, cities, and common folk trusted with their monies. These people defrauded thousands and thousands of people without influence. What AJ did was under pressure, not greed.
As far as who is responsible for getting bids in time for this budget, Mr. Milone told the solid waste committee that he could not work on the Coventa and trash hauling contacts at the same time. The 3 member committee was to handle the hauling aspect for the budget. Alteri, DeCaprio, and White knew when they were assigned to the committee when they had to have new bids/contract in place. ANY of the 3 members could have pushed the other 2 members to get this done. One problem I am having, and without starting a fight or this taken out of context, did White refuse to push the issue because DeCaprio and Alteri are democrats or was he waiting for them to bring it up?
"Lets go look at the bidding process for the Norton Boiler and you will see how the democratic majority did all they could to hand that job to them."
Im kind of lost as to why the democrats would do all they could to give a republican this job.
More examples of greed on the mind:
(seen on Channel 3 WFSB news @5:00)
Southwest Airlines knowingly flying unsafe planes.
Bagage handlers arrested at Bradley airport for stealing from travelers bags.
2 security guards arrested at Colt Mfg. for stealing items including guns
Salsbury CT school clerk stole $100,000+ from school system
Even those who are there to help us and protect us are not always as honest as they seem. All 4 of these stories are people risking the general publics safety and security.
Before everyone goes nuts over AJ Waste, should we check our own paid and elected officals backrounds?
DeVylder---
GIVE IT A REST!
You will never convince anyone here that your thoughts are intelligent ones.
End it....
You just don't get it.
We arer just wishing for the town to do the right thing on a contract this big---put it out to bid.
You are the one who makes it personal.
Please go away....
coments like that just fire me up
Bob DeVylder Roars...An Outsiders Look Inside Cheshire Town Government...a new blog coming to writers like you this spring.
Stop feeding the geese. It only encourages them to produce more droppings.
Mr DeVylder:
Yes. ALL contracts for work and projects of this type should be put out to bid. That is what our Town Charter attests and requires for the good of Cheshire citizens.
You seem to have missed the discussion between the Council, TM, and TA regarding the Coventa switch. They seemed to say all was workable despite the upcoming changes. That film was posted on this blog.
_____
Why is it we are ignoring a simple fact about trash pickup? What do these trash trucks use for fuel-- Mr. Fusion? NO. They use gasoline and diesel fuel. Hasn't the price of fuel changed dramatically in recent years? Wouldn't this be a key player is assessing cost of trash pickup for a municipality for 1 year (or more)? So how can the cost be the same, +2%? Not meant to be insulting, but LD has transformed from a waitress to a trash industry expert, and is to be believed? I would prefer some hard data... none of which has been expressed. A bid process accomplishes this for all to see.
It is reprehensible that 5 years of time expires and this contract was not prepared to be re-bid. Town Management and Councilors would be flogged if this level of work was offerred in the non-public business environment. Imagine explaining something like this mishandled process to your supervisor or CEO; and it is passed off callously to to the people of this town as business as usual. We deserve a higher standard of conduct, and a higher standard of performance.
This issue closes out a fiscal year that brands Cheshire as financially irresponsible at a time where such conduct is especially troubling.
"You seem to have missed the discussion between the Council, TM, and TA regarding the Coventa switch. They seemed to say all was workable despite the upcoming changes. That film was posted on this blog."
You are right, I did miss it. For some reason, I cannot always view the video's. (not just here) I do recall hearing that when the Coventa discussions began, Milone told the committee that he could not work both contracts on his own and would take on Coventa. That was almost a year ago if not more. Solid Waste was suppose to work the hauling contract. Like I said before, Alteri may be the chairman, but any of the other 2 members of the committee could have spoken up to get this done earlier.
"Hasn't the price of fuel changed dramatically in recent years? Wouldn't this be a key player is assessing cost of trash pickup for a municipality for 1 year (or more)? So how can the cost be the same, +2%? "
I am responding to this statement in general, and not directing it to any specific contract.
Fuel costs, as everyone knows, have been riding the roller coaster for some time. As long as our economy is poor, fuel costs will be low. Fuel costs are actually the reason our economy has tanked. People were put in a position to decide if they wanted to pay their mortgage or heat their homes or pay for their gas guzzler or pay $5 a gallon to get to work. If the cost of fuels hadn't skyrocketed, many of our nations financial problems would not be here.
Anyone who bids a contract adds how much it will cost to fulfill the requirements (fuel, labor, insurance, maintenance, etc...) plus profit. For the most part, the amount of profit a company plans to make is really a safety net. If cost to do the work drops, they make more profit, if cost goes up, they have to absorb the increase. The yearly 2-3% increase is to protect themselves for the duration. Nobody knows where fuel, labor, and insurance costs will be in 5 years. Most bids are written so there is more profit in the first year and, after 4 more years, there is a 10% increase over what was originally bid.
"but LD has transformed from a waitress to a trash industry expert, and is to be believed? "
How many people commenting on this topic are experts? My understanding is Tim is a banker, not a trash consultant, a lawyer, or a crime expert. This comment really "trashes" everyone, including Tim, not just Laura.
I am getting the impression that the die-hard republicans are criticizing the democrats only because they are a different party. My question is, if we did not have parties, would the vote have been the same?
Mr DeVylder,
Alignment to a party is usually more philosophical as well as practical if one intends to become involved in the political process. Non-aligned and unafilitied voters often tip their toe into an issue based on their understanding of the issue or its impact on them but they too probably have a basic inclination right or left of center on most issues. That is why the parties court the unaffiliated. I venture the unaffiliated find their "independence" makes them more thoughtful and receptive to different ideas...remaining above the fray so to speak.
As to the TC voting along party lines I would venture a guess that while each has their own degree of liberal and conservative core beliefs they do represent a constinuancy. They also are taking the risk as each one of them can lose an election. You may love them or hate them but ask any of them if their vote was right for the town and everyone of them will say yes and tell you why.
People moan about the TC, BOE and PZC stating they are on the take or something is in it for them but basically they most probably think they can make a difference by participating in the process, sticking their necks out and be willing to stand up for something.
PAX
"They also are taking the risk as each one of them can lose an election."
So is it better to be a drone and play follow the leader or be original and put it all on the line?
I've always viewed myself as more independant than Republican. I perfer to vote not on the party but what I feel is right.
The arguement "they could loose an election" is b/s. Vote the way you feel is right and let results dictate the future. If you make an unpopular decision, under your own terms and for just and reasonable cause, than nobody can fault you for protecting the best interest of the town.
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