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Council hears lengthy debate over trash contract, votes to table ordinance on multiunit collection
Summary
City staff briefed the Committee on Finance on a pending residential solid-waste and recycling contract and proposed ordinances shifting pickup for properties with more than four units to private vendors. Councilors pressed staff on contract length, disposal costs and how five- and six-unit buildings would be served; the committee tabled the ordinance pending more vendor and equity information.
The Committee on Finance reviewed administration planning for Fall River's residential solid-waste and recycling contract as the current agreement nears expiration, but councilors stopped short of adopting the proposed ordinance and asked staff for more information.
Interim City Administrator Ann O'Neil Souza told the committee the city has a 90-day memorandum of understanding with the prospective contractor to delay execution while the city sorts a $1.12 per-unit budget financing guarantee and finalizes procurement. Emily Arp, the city's QCFO, gave initial contract figures: first-year collection costs and an estimated disposal charge of about $125 per ton for municipal curbside solid waste. "Right now there was a memorandum of understanding signed with the company and the city for a 90 day stay of the execution of the contract due to the $1.12 budget," Arp said.
The administration has proposed an ordinance amendment that would remove city collection responsibility for parcels with more than four dwelling units and require private vendors to serve those properties. Director of Community Maintenance Chris Hathaway said the administration's goal is waste diversion and reducing disposal tonnage: "If we can reduce our waste diversion and pull the recycling out of our solid waste, we should see significant change in our disposal cost," he said.
Councilors pressed staff on several fronts. Some members said the two-year contract with a one-year option likely reduced bidder interest and drove up prices; others warned that requiring private pickup for five- and six-unit buildings could leave residents without service if private haulers decline the work. Councilor Pereira (addressing vendor access and placement) pointed to cases where dumpsters in driveways have created neighborhood nuisance and said, "If you can't get a private to pick up trash, what's going to happen?" Councilors also asked for a vendor list, evidence private haulers can handle denser multiunit neighborhoods, and an exception or fee process for owner-occupied multiunit homes that produce little trash.
Administration officials said they have been in touch with attorney Matt Thomas on ordinance language and with the Board of Health regarding enforcement, including a proposed three-strikes removal rule for repeat recycling contamination. Staff also described a terminated cardboard pilot and continued enforcement actions (warnings, citations, liens) aimed at removing contaminated recycling from the curbside stream.
After extended questioning the committee voted to table the ordinance and asked staff to return with additional information: a list of private vendors operating in Fall River, an exception or hardship process for small-produce five- and six-unit owner-occupied properties, clearer cost comparisons (including scenarios for longer contract terms), and Board of Health participation on enforcement authority. No changes to the city's current collection service were enacted at the meeting.
The committee also discussed operational changes in bulky-item scheduling (an online form to replace sticker-based systems) and options for charging or permitting extra carts as a revenue-offset strategy. Staff said they could provide the vendor list and additional contract feedback at a future meeting.
The ordinance was tabled without a vote on the substance; staff said the items will return after follow-up and consultation with legal counsel and the Board of Health.
