Town to reissue curbside trash and recycling bid with alternate pricing for containers

Colleen (staff member) said the town will reissue its invitation for bid for curbside trash and recycling with an alternate price to show the cost if the town purchases the collection bins itself rather than including them in contractor bids. "It's going to go out next Thursday. It will be due back on April 3," Colleen said.

The change is intended to let the town compare the cost difference between vendors supplying bins as part of a contract and the town buying bins directly, Colleen said. She said the revised bid text had minor revisions and that Chad (staff member) will post it on the procurement register.

Colleen told the board she met earlier with the town administrator and the town council while preparing the revised invitation for bid. She said she will amend the next agenda, with board permission, to include a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen on April 8 to review returned bids.

Board members discussed plans for resident outreach once a vendor is selected, including updating the town website and social media and holding a public question-and-answer session or library meeting to explain how the new program will affect the town's collection calendar and recycling separation requirements. Colleen said staff would prepare a rollout plan and a revised fee schedule for the board at the next meeting.

No formal vote on awards or contract terms occurred at the meeting; board members directed staff to issue the revised invitation for bid and return with results at a future meeting.