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Chester staff seek consultant support for trash-hauler transition; council presses for not-to-exceed cap
Summary
Council reviewed a resolution to accept MSW Consultants' proposal to support onboarding a new solid-waste hauler, distribution of 10,000 recycling carts and grant reimbursement work under Act 101 §902; members pressed for a not-to-exceed cap after seeing hourly rates and no end date in the proposal.
City of Chester staff asked council on Oct. 20, 2025 to accept a proposal from MSW Consultants to assist with the transition to the city's new solid-waste hauler, to support distribution of 10,000 recycling carts and to help seek grant reimbursement under Act 101, section 902.
The agenda item (R-115) would authorize work under the consultant's proposed hourly rates and service fees during the implementation period leading up to the new contract start date of Jan. 1, 2026.
City staff explained that MSW Consultants previously helped draft the request for proposals and bid specifications for the new contract and are independent of the selected hauler, Casella (doing business as Waste Industries of Delaware). The executed contract with Casella is in place and staff said the consultant's role would help with implementation questions and ensure the hauler meets bid specifications during transition.
Several council members expressed concern that the resolution includes hourly rates but no "not-to-exceed" cap. One council member said, "241 an hour is a lot." City staff said the last MSW engagement cost $18,000 for developing the bid specs and suggested council could set a not-to-exceed amount and staff would negotiate hours and deliverables with MSW. Staff agreed to provide a recommended not-to-exceed figure before the next meeting.
Act 101, section 902 (the state recycling/grant reimbursement provision referenced in the agenda item) was explicitly cited as a source of potential grant reimbursement for the 10,000 recycling carts.
The resolution as presented in the transcript does not include a fixed end date; staff said the arrangement is billed by the hour and that they will return with a recommended not-to-exceed amount for council consideration.
Provenance: - topicintro: excerpt listing R-115 and describing MSW Consultants' scope (transcript excerpt). - topicfinish: excerpt where council requests a not-to-exceed cap and staff agrees to provide a recommendation (transcript excerpt).
Ending: Staff will propose a recommended not-to-exceed amount and clarify alternate rates and expected hours for council review prior to the next meeting; no formal approval vote is recorded in the available transcript.
