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YORKTOWN, N.Y. - Switching garbage pickup companies next year would save Yorktown nearly $500,000, but some are wondering whether those savings would outweigh a loss of experience.
Yorktown changed language in its bid specifications earlier this year that gave startup companies a chance to win its residential garbage pickup contract. Yorktown previously required 10 years of experience from its garbage crews, but the new bid had no requirement on experience.
The change resulted in two bids coming in that were $300,000 and $800,000 less than the 2012 contract the town has with C.R.P. Sanitation. Competition Carting came in as the unofficial lowest bidder at $2.49 million annually. C.R.P was the unofficial second lowest bidder at $3 million annually.
"The argument to go with the original guy is he’s in business, he knows what he’s doing, he has the financial backing," council member Nick Bianco said. "The new guy has nothing — zero, other than a license. Never picked up residential garbage. But then again, should you not give a new person the benefit of the doubt and maybe they can do it?"
C.R.P. has been Yorktown’s residential garbage collector for seven years. The town's initial six-year contract with the company expired Dec. 31, 2011, and it was brought back on a one-year contract in 2012.
Bianco and the rest of the town board hopes to meet with officials from the competing companies at Tuesday night’s work session. The board has an obligation to choose the lowest “responsible” bidder, which Bianco said is a key word when it comes to the newer Competition Carting.
“There’s a couple questions that I need answered,” he said. “I’m not going to vote to award the bid if I don’t see them there answering my questions, but I’ll give them a fair shake.”
Susan Siegel, former Yorktown Supervisor and founder of Citizens for an Informed Yorktown, also wondered whether the savings would be worth the risk.
"Is the lowest price always the best price? How do you vet a company with no experience?" she said. "Lots of questions about an important town service."
Tuesday’s work session begins at 7:30 p.m. in Yorktown Town Hall at 363 Underhill Ave.
Comments (5)
I cannot understand how our town would choose to switch garbage companies. I am sure we could cut back in many other areas that the people are displeased with and woud like to see a change. C.R.P. has been dependable, careful and the men are respectful and nice. Brian Amico is a convicted felon, having been caught selling steroids. Before doing anything they should require him to take a drug test. I am ashamed that the town I grew up in would let this happen. I have always thought of Yorktown as a classy, respected town that makes the right decision. This will be no longer. I know that myself and many others will be very upset if our service is interfered with to save just $70. The town really dropped the ball on this one.
I really wonder what Councilman Bianco's agenda is. I have been doing business with Competition Carting for 8 years. He had picked up at restaurants that I have managed. They also do the residential service for Putnam Valley and quite a few of my friends in the construction business use them for Roll-off containers. To try to convince the public that this is a "new guy" with "Zero - other than a license" seems to be very disingenuous. Has the other company been that good to Mr. Bianco that he is trying to convince Yorktown to stay with them at the additional cost of $500,000?
Just using their own words it seems to me they are "the new guy" He doesn't have the money to purchase the trucks and hire the employees, but will after the award of the bid. Not sound business practice.
"Competiton Carting Owner Brian Amico said he will be able to do the job for cheaper because he has less overhead than C.R.P., which has more than 570 employees. Amico said his company currently has four employees.
Amico is proposing to do the job with eight trucks and and 12 employees. He said he does not have the money to purchase the trucks and hire the employees now, but will be able to after being awarded the bid. "
I really wonder what Councilman Bianco's agenda is. I have been doing business with Competition Carting for 8 years. He had picked up at restaurants that I have managed. They also do the residential service for Putnam Valley and quite a few of my friends in the construction business use them for Roll-off containers. To try to convince the public that this is a "new guy" with "Zero - other than a license" seems to be very disingenuous. Has the other company been that good to Mr. Bianco that he is trying to convince Yorktown to stay with them at the additional cost of $500,000?
CRP has been terrific for us - dependable, careful and very courteous. I'd hate to have them replaced by a company that has no idea what it's doing.