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Council weighs notice of default to garbage hauler, directs contingency planning
Summary
Following repeated service complaints, Hudson council directed staff to prepare a notice of default/termination to the city's waste hauler, seek pricing from alternate contractors and examine legal constraints on substitute service while the contract is pending.
Council members discussed documented missed pickups and other service issues with the city's current waste hauler and directed staff to prepare a formal notice of default and to proceed with contingency planning.
Staff and councilors said they have documented missed garbage and recycling pickups on specific days and that a properly itemized notice of default should identify those dates. Members discussed whether sending early notice of non-renewal or default would alter the hauler's behavior and whether the city could immediately hire substitute contractors if the current hauler failed to perform. Legal questions about exclusivity clauses in the current contract prompted the city attorney/staff to offer to research what the city may lawfully do while a contract remains pending.
Several council members urged staff to solicit pricing and confirm backup capacity from other local haulers so the city could ensure continuity of service if the current contractor's performance declined. Staff reported interest from multiple vendors in providing service; council directed public works staff to obtain competitive quotes and to place formal bid/contract language on an upcoming agenda. A motion to proceed with notice and gather contingency pricing carried with one opposition recorded in the transcript.
No final termination was recorded in the transcript; the council took direction and a step toward sending formal notice while seeking legal clarification on substitute service and contract exclusivity.
