Council signals waiver of competitive bidding for bulky-waste hauling to cut transfer-station costs

Councilors voted to indicate their willingness to waive the competitive bidding requirement for hauling from the transfer station and to publish the waiver for public comment ahead of a final decision. Staff presented four hauler quotes and a line-by-line estimate showing hauling distance and trucking fees drive the per-ton cost.

Public works director Matt Walsh said the town currently pays roughly $95 a ton including trucking and tipping and that a nearby hauler would charge about $150 a ton for hauling and no trucking fee; the difference could save between roughly $21,000 and $39,000 a year, depending on total tonnage. "If you break it down, Belltown was the lowest because they're not charging us for trucking, because they're very close in town at a $150 a ton," Matt Walsh said. Councilors noted the town's purchasing threshold and were briefed on the two-step process: first indicate willingness to waive bidding and publish notice, then award the contract at a subsequent meeting if no better proposal emerges.