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Committee approves emergency contract allowing public-works director to buy SWANA and other training for solid-waste staff
Summary
The Municipal Services and Properties Committee on March 31 approved an emergency ordinance authorizing the director of public works to contract with the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and other providers to deliver training to the division of waste.
The Municipal Services and Properties Committee on March 31 approved an emergency ordinance authorizing the director of public works to contract with the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and other industry providers to deliver training to the division of waste.
The ordinance, No. 21-20-25, lets the director enter a one‑year contract with an option to renew for an additional year; the committee amended the ordinance to add a “not to exceed” cap in the contract-authority line. Councilman Richard Star moved the amendment; Councilman Brian Casey seconded. The amendment passed by voice vote and the ordinance was approved as amended.
Why it matters: City officials said the training is intended to move learning beyond on‑the‑job practices and bring national best practices to Cleveland’s workforce, with a focus on supervisors and front‑line staff. Director Williams and Commissioner Prude told the committee that better training is a priority for the department’s workforce development efforts.
Department officials told the committee there are 31 supervisory employees targeted for training, and that staff identified four core course areas: municipal routing and collection, recycling collection, transfer‑station operations and fleet management. The department described the program as a one‑time curriculum that could take longer than a calendar year to complete depending on course scheduling.
Council questions focused on procurement and cost. Councilman Kazem asked whether SWANA had already been selected; Commissioner Prude said SWANA is a key partner but the city still must contract formally. The department confirmed membership discounts would apply but that being a SWANA member does not provide free training — the city would still pay for courses. Councilman Star pressed for a fiscal limit; the amendment added language capping the contract cost to clarify the funding source identified in the ordinance (Fund 01-7013-62024).
The ordinance passed by voice vote at the meeting.
