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Pompton Lakes explores shared garbage service with Oakland that would add nine staff and two trucks
Summary
The Pompton Lakes Borough Council reviewed a proposed five-year shared service to collect Oakland's solid waste and recycling. Borough staff estimated nearly $1 million in net revenue over five years, the hire of nine full-time employees, purchase of two trucks and 33 dumpsters, and a Jan. 1 start if the agreement is adopted.
The Pompton Lakes Borough Council on April 23 reviewed a proposed shared-service agreement to collect solid waste, recycling and vegetative waste for the borough of Oakland, N.J., a plan borough officials said would begin Jan. 1 if approved.
Borough administrator Michael Perez told the council the plan would require hiring nine full-time employees, purchasing two additional garbage trucks and acquiring 33 dumpsters for Oakland's municipal sites. "We would be making just short of a million dollars net revenue," Perez said, describing a first-year administrative fee of about $133,000 that the borough would collect and an estimated increase in that fee to about $180,000 by year five.
The council heard details from Dan O'Rourke, the borough's public works superintendent, and from Eric Moll, mayor of Oakland, who attended the meeting. Moll called the proposal "a wonderful opportunity to really demonstrate shared services," and said Oakland's governing body had discussed the plan favorably.
Why it matters: Council staff said the contract would bring recurring revenue the borough could use for capital needs, including a long-planned new DPW garage; provide nine employees who could be reassigned to road and parks work after collection routes finish each day; and potentially shield Oakland from large price spikes if it went out to bid. Perez said the borough's financial analysis showed Oakland could save roughly $800,000 in year one compared with expected market bids.
Details and timeline: Perez said the borough would likely purchase — rather than lease — the dumpsters and trucks, and recover that cost through fees charged to Oakland. He recommended the council adopt a shared-service agreement at its May 14 meeting, with route familiarization planned for December and operational start on Jan. 1. Perez and O'Rourke said the two new trucks and the dumpsters would be paid for from the service fees rather than the borough's existing operating budget.
What's not included: Snow removal and plowing would not be part of the agreement; council members clarified the shared service would cover solid waste/recycling/vegetative waste only. Perez also said Oakland's holiday schedule differs and the communities had negotiated how missed collection days would be handled.
Public concerns and council questions: A member of the public asked about locking into a five-year contract with Oakland if circumstances changed; council members acknowledged that concern and said the contract length was part of the negotiations. Council members and staff also discussed procurement issues, whether the new staff would be borough employees, and whether purchasing dumpsters outright or leasing them would be more cost-effective.
Next steps: Council members indicated support to move forward to a formal shared-service agreement for adoption at the May 14 meeting, with procurement and hiring work to follow if the agreement is approved.
