Cheshire To Go Out to Bid for Bulk Waste Pickup — But Don't Count On It

It's something resident clearly want, Town Council members acknowledge, but whether the town can afford it is another question.

Last fall, the council voted to get costs estimates on holding a Bulk Waste Pickup this year. Then it was thought that it would cost about $175,000 to hire a company to collect the items and dispose of them. 

But now, preliminary unofficial estimates put that price at between $140,000 and $150,000, Town Manager Michael Milone told the council Tuesday. 

Last fall, the town was looking at a budget surplus that would more than cover the costs. But with the deep cuts in the aid the town receives from the state, much of that surplus was incorporated into next year's budget and is no longer available. So now that $140,000 price tag is seen as no longer available by many on the council.

A motion before the council Tuesday was to rescind that decision made last October to go out to bid for prices for the pickup. The motion failed by a 5-4 vote, but even those voting in favor of going out to bid were quick to say that it didn't mean that the pickup would come to pass.

"It's extremely short-sighted not to go forward on something that has already been decided on — the public has been clamouring for this," said Councilwoman Patti Flynn-Harris.

"It is a good program and people do like it," said Councilman Thomas Ruocco. "I think it's more prudent to wait, that's all."

"This is something that every single household partakes in when it's there," said Councilman James Sima. Without the pickup, "I think a lot of this stuff is getting broken up and making it into the trash," he said.

"Let's find out what the cost is and see where it goes," said Councilwoman Sylvia Nichols. "I think we spend a lot of time being careful with expenditures and it's hard for the general public to understand when they don't see a direct result.

"I think in this particular case you are giving residents a service they need," she said.

"The Bulk Waste Pickup is a nice to have service but not a need to have service like trash pickup, which is a public health issue," said Councilman Andrew Falvey.
 
"They bought the things, they can pay to get rid of them," he said. "Regardless of what it costs, the town doesn't have the money to pay and I think it's a waste of time."

Since the motion failed, the town will go out to bid and the council will once again vote on it once the bids are in.

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