Derby Has New Trash Hauler, Transfer Station Operator . . . Almost

The Board of Aldermen has chosen a company to run the city’s transfer station — maybe.

City Carting of Stamford was awarded a contract for trash pickup Wednesday. It is the also Aldermen’s choice to run the station, but first city officials must negotiate the deal with the Public Works Union.

Mayor Anthony Staffieri wouldn’t put a price tag on the new contract Wednesday night, saying it’s still under negotiation. Officials said it won’t be more than $1.2 million.

Background

Two years ago, when the board ousted city Public Works employees and put Annex Associates in to run the transfer station, the union filed grievances against the city because its contract required the city to negotiate any such changes with the union.

The union prevailed and the city was forced to get rid of Annex and rehire the two employees who had worked at the station and were fired after refusing to testify on a hearing held on the issue. 

The two employees were reassigned to different tasks after the city shut down the station because it was discovered that it did not hold the proper state permits to run it.

Since then residents have been bringing their refuse to the Shelton transfer station. 

But now, with permits in place, city officials must decide what their next move will be.

Bids

Seven companies responded to the city’s request for proposals to run the station, Mayor Anthony Staffieri said. After narrowing that list down to three, the board selected City Carting after almost two hours in executive session. It had earlier approved awarding the company the trash pickup contract.

But, we are first going to negotiate with the union,” Corporation Counsel Joseph Coppola said. We were always going to negotiate with the union.”

Ultimately, the board could select City Carting to run the station or decide to once again man the station with Public Works employees, Staffieri said, or a combination of the two.

We will negotiate with the Public Works union and then make a presentation to the Aldermen,” Coppola said, possibly at its Aug. 26 monthly meeting. 

City Carting operates the Milford transfer station and would operate Derby’s in a similar fashion, Staffieri said, including being open six days a week. 

Public Works Director Ron Culmo had voiced concerns over rumors that in private hands the station would only be open two or three days a week. That would hinder his employee’s ability to get rid of the trash it picks up in places such as the Derby Green and its parks in a timely manner, Culmo said.

The Public Works Department needs the use of the transfer station daily,” he told the Aldermen.

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