Council reviews proposed 5-year curbside contract extension and discusses budgets, downtown snow removal and audit delays

The Saco City Council on Feb. 24 reviewed a proposed five-year extension of the city's curbside solid-waste collection contract with Casella, the company that has provided curbside collection for the city for many years. The council did not take a final vote; staff said the extension will return to a future meeting for formal action.

Interim Public Works Director Travis Moore told the council the proposal is for a five-year extension with a 5% price increase each year and would maintain the existing two-truck collection pattern. Moore said the contractor included a resident-facing app in its proposal that would help residents find disposal locations, transfer-station hours and contact details for items not collected curbside.

Moore and the administrator pointed the council to the tipping fee at EcoMaine as a major cost driver. "The tipping fee is what we pay at EcoMaine when Casella drops our waste off there. We pay by the ton. It's $105 a ton," Moore said; he added the fee rises annually based on CPI adjustments. Staff also noted the existing relationship with EcoMaine and the convenience of local disposal options for…