Garbage collection costs come under scrutiny

If it's not broken, don't fix it, one department head said.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A city councilman has called for legislation to be drafted that would authorize the city to seek bids from private firms to collect residential garbage, but the city's director of environmental services wants to keep the status quo.
"We're paying $6.60 a month more than Niles," said Councilman Robert Holmes III, D-4th. Holmes said he wants the city to seek bids from private companies for garbage pickup and disposal to determine whether city residents can benefit from lower rates.
Under his proposed ordinance, "Anybody can bid on the whole city," he said. "If we could save every household $100 a year, we have to consider this," he said of privatization. Niles households pay $7.52 a month for garbage collection, but Warren charges $14.12, he noted.
If the bidding doesn't bring rates and services that are competitive with Warren's current rates, Holmes said he'd ask that the bids be rejected and that the city stay with city environmental services department employees collecting garbage.
So-called white goods, such as refrigerators, stoves and air conditioners, are collected free in Niles, but Warren charges $15 for picking up such items, Holmes said.
"They do an excellent job, but we have to cut costs somehow," Holmes said of Warren's trash-hauling city employees at Wednesday's city council meeting.
Budget surplus
"I don't think you should fix something if it's not broken," said Renee Cicero, the city's director of environmental services. Cicero said her department is now showing a $308,000 budget surplus for this year.
"Sanitation is working. It's doing it's job and doing it well," agreed Councilman Felipe Romain Jr., D-at large, who leaves office Saturday.
"Environmental services is a business. Before you decide to close a business, you take a look at its numbers. You say: Why do we want to close it, or what do we need to do to make it better?," said Councilman Gary Fonce, D-at large, noting the department's $308,000 surplus.
He acknowledged the department needs to go after what he said was anywhere between $150,000 and $500,000 in uncollected revenue. But, he added: "I don't think we're at the point yet where we need to throw the baby out with the bathwater and do away with this department."
Fonce proposed forming a committee of business and community leaders to examine environmental services department operations and advise the city on what steps to take to increase revenue, collect delinquent accounts and keep the department viable.