Liberty postpones decision on exclusive trash hauler

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

The issue will be discussed at a meeting next week.

LIBERTY — Trustees are not ready to make a decision on an exclusive refuse hauler here until they talk a little trash with township residents.

Trustees were set to vote on legislation that would designate Allied Waste Management as the exclusive trash hauler for the township. But they decided to table the vote after Trustee Gary Litch said more interaction with the public is needed.

Trustees will have a special 7 p.m. public meeting Tuesday to address the trash issue and field any questions or concerns.

The township advertised for bids for trash pickup over a period of several weeks, and Allied Waste was the only company to submit a bid. Allied Waste is offering to do the service for a monthly charge of $15.43 per resident for weekly trash collection.

Trustee Jodi Stoyak said township residents are paying between $12 per month and $26 per month for weekly trash collection depending on what company they use.

The rate being offered by Allied Waste will be a fixed rate for the next three years.

Township residents can also now pay for trash collection by the bag — something that Allied Waste, if approved, will continue. Stoyak said the price for per-bag service will be $2.50.

Litch said he would have liked to see postcards sent to residents showing the details of the plan. He said more information to the public would have allowed for more feedback time.

“My biggest concern is, how much information did we provide the citizens of Liberty Township about what we were trying to do? I believe we could have put a better plan together in going out to the residents and explaining what we are trying to do,” he said.

Litch also said he would like to see Allied, if accepted as an exclusive hauler, pay a franchise fee to the township that could be used to fund road repairs.

Atty. Mark Finamore, township legal counsel, said there are no provisions in Ohio law that allow for such fees.

Several residents attending the meeting expressed concern about the potential contract.

One resident said the plan was good, but she did not like the idea of losing the opportunity to choose her trash hauler. Another said he did not see enough of a savings to offer one company exclusive rights to the township.

Stoyak, a staunch supporter of the plan, said going to one trash collection company instead of the three will mean less noise from trucks collecting trash at different times and different days, less pollution and less damage to township roads.

Trustee Jack Simon said he is not opposed to the plan, but he does have some questions. He said he would likely support the plan after those questions are answered.

Anthony Discenza, a representative of Waste Management, also attended and said his company would like the chance to participate in the bid process. He was provided a copy of the bid specifications.

If approved, Allied Waste would be the only trash hauler available to residents, but Finamore said residents would not be forced to use their services. Some may choose to go without trash collection altogether.

“We are not forcing anybody to hire them to do anything, but if you hire someone they would be the people that would have to do it,” he said.

Also at 7 p.m. Tuesday, trustees will make a decision on the future employment of police Officer Charles Sayre. Finamore said trustees met in an executive session Wednesday to discuss the investigation into Sayre with acting Chief Richard Tisone. He would not give any specifics of the discussion, but said the investigation included several issues, including Sayre’s allegedly tracking his girlfriend with a GPS device.

According to Finamore, trustees will decide at Tuesday’s meeting if Sayre should return to work, face discipline or be terminated.

jgoodwin@vindy.com