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Board approves larger grounds-management contract after debate over snow-removal costs and added services
Summary
Trustees approved an increase in the grounds-management 'Manila/Manelo' contract (not-to-exceed ~ $1.127 million) after lengthy questions about a $267,000 jump from last year, new sidewalk and Holloway hallway services budgeting, and a sliding-scale snow-removal schedule that caps some high-end costs.
The Ridgewood Board of Education approved an expansion of the district—s grounds-management contract on July 14 after detailed discussion about snow-removal pricing and several new services the vendor will provide.
Finance reporting showed the contract—s not-to-exceed amount rising from about $860,000 to $1,127,000, an increase trustees described as $267,000. Board members identified three principal drivers for the increase: a renegotiated tiered snow-removal fee schedule designed to limit exposure at very high snowfall totals; a budgeted sidewalk/snow-removal line (roughly $106,000) to shift work previously done by custodians to the vendor; and a provisional Holloway hallway-services allocation of $110,000 that the facilities team must preapprove before the vendor can bill for such work.
Several members asked for the actual contract language and a line-by-line cost comparison to make the changes transparent to the public. Finance staff said the base services and base price are unchanged from the prior contract, and that the additional dollars reflect new services and an approach to cap high-end snow costs that previously produced large unplanned bills.
Why it matters: the change affects operating funds for grounds and custodial work and reallocates certain previously internal duties to the vendor; the board and public sought clearer budget detail so residents can understand the effect on tax-funded operations.
What was approved: the contract addendum and related budget authorization were approved as part of the finance package (roll call recorded); staff were directed to make the contract and cost-comparison materials accessible with committee packets going forward.
Next steps: the facilities team retains approval authority for discretionary Holloway work and will report expenditures to the board.
