Norwich Township hears plan to award five-year waste contract that would raise monthly fee $3.25

Trustee Kelli Arthur Hykes and Township Administrator Jamie Fisher reviewed terms of a proposed five-year agreement with Local Waste Services that would provide collection of residential solid waste, recyclable materials and yard waste for unincorporated Norwich Township.

Administrator Jamie Fisher said the contract would run Jan. 1, 2027, through Dec. 31, 2031, and increase the monthly service rate from $20.99 to $24.24 — a $3.25 rise for affected households. Fisher said an existing senior-citizen discount, a 10% reduction for qualifying heads of household aged 60 or older, would remain in the proposal. Fisher also said the company must provide an implementation plan by Aug. 1, 2026, and that the proposed contract had been posted as part of the original bid package.

Trustee Brian Rothenberg requested that standard ethics provisions — covering conflicts of interest, ethics compliance and campaign-contribution transparency — be added as an addendum if Local Waste agrees to incorporate them. Fisher said the township attorney provided model language for those provisions and that, so long as Local Waste accepts them, they can be attached to the contract.

The board did not record a formal vote on the contract in the minutes for May 19; Fisher said she will place the item on the June 2, 2026 meeting agenda for additional discussion and consideration. The minutes show the board is treating the Local Waste contract as the final step in awarding services that were discussed during the township's March 17 bid process.

Next steps: Fisher will pursue the implementation plan, seek written confirmation about adding the ethics addendum, and present the contract for further consideration at the June 2 meeting.