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Chester staff to seek cost cap before approving consultant hours to assist trash‑hauler transition
Summary
Council discussed hiring MSW Consultants to help onboard new hauler Casella (Waste Industries of Delaware) and carry out recycling‑cart distribution and grant reimbursement work; members asked finance to recommend a not‑to‑exceed cap after concerns about hourly rates.
Council members on Oct. 20 discussed a resolution to engage MSW Consultants to assist with the transition to the city’s new solid‑waste contractor, Casella (doing business as Waste Industries of Delaware), which begins Jan. 1.
Staff said MSW — the consultant that helped draft the RFP — would assist with contract implementation, resident outreach to distribute 10,000 recycling carts, and pursuing Act 101, section 902 grant reimbursement. Council asked for more budget certainty after noting the consultant’s hourly rates cited during discussion ($241 per hour) and the lack of a not‑to‑exceed cap in the resolution.
‘‘If counsel feels comfortable setting a not to exceed value, we’ll work within that,’’ staff said, noting the previous MSW agreement had been about $18,000 for bid preparation. Councilmember concerns prompted staff to promise a recommended not‑to‑exceed amount and an estimate of hours before the next meeting so the council could decide whether to approve the consultant work and, if so, at what maximum cost.
The transcript shows discussion and a commitment from staff to return with recommended limits; no formal vote on the consultant engagement was recorded in the available excerpt.
