Mahwah January 26, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Contract includes cost savings, fewer collections by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Township Council has unanimously approved a resolution that will reduce the number of weekly solid waste collections from two to one from October through May. The change will save the township $67,000 a year over the three-year life of a contract it intends to award to a new contractor. The current contract with Interstate Waste Services will expire on Feb. 28. As a result, bids were sought on specifications that called for the present twice-a-week curbside pickup schedule, once-a-week curbside pickup for the entire year, or twice-a-week curbside pickups from June through September and once-a-week curbside pickups from October through May. Suburban Disposal of Fairfield was the low bidder of the eight waste disposal companies that bid for the contract with a $2,262,000 proposal that will change the residential pickup schedule to once a week for eight months of the year. The new contract still includes the twice-a-week pickup of dumpsters at condominiums and schools, and the pickup of residential bulk items once per week all year. The new schedule of solid waste curbside pickups will begin March 1. The specific day of the week the pickups will be made from October through May will be the first day of the current twice-a-week pickup schedule. The council struggled with the decision to cut back on the pickup schedule for curbside solid waste, but agreed to it in light of the fact that it will save the township more than $200,000 over a three-year period over the current contract and will help the township meet the new two percent cap the state has placed on all municipal and school budgets. Council President John DaPuzzo echoed the sentiment of the council when he said he really did not want to make the collection change, but he described the cost savings as significant. He also noted that the contract locks in the rate of energy costs over the term of the agreement. The township has also indicated that the department of public works will no longer pick up grass clippings from the curb. Residents may dispose of their grass clippings at the recycling yard on Railroad Avenue between April 7 and Sept. 30, have them disposed of by a private contractor, compost the clippings in a compost bin, or participate in the Cut It and Leave It program. Cut It and Leave It proponents encourage those who mow to cut the top one-third of the grass and leave the clippings on the lawn. According to a Cut It and Leave It website, the grass clippings quickly settle between the growing blades of grass, shelter the roots from the sun, conserve moisture, and release moisture and nutrients into the soil so the grass needs to be watered less frequently. The website also notes that clippings left on the lawn supply one-third or more of the nitrogen needed to keep grass green and healthy. Leaves will continue to be picked up on a continuous schedule from Oct. 17 through Dec. 9. During the leaf season, grass clippings can be mixed with leaves left at the curb. Brian Campion, the township’s business administrator, cautioned that there may be more service reductions necessary to stay within the cap. He pointed out that nine positions in the department of public works have been eliminated through attrition, primarily retirements; five positions in the police department have been eliminated through attrition; and three white collar positions have been eliminated through attrition, while there have been layoffs of two full time and three part time employee positions. Campion said Mayor Richard Martel’s budget, which was delivered to the council recently, meets the two percent cap mandated by the state but if that budget is changed by the council, or if other revenues decline, more cuts in positions or services or an increase in the tax rate rise might be necessary. “Everything is on the table,” he cautioned, “including additional layoffs, attrition, and service cuts.” Noel Schulz, CPA, MBA Certified Public Accountant • Tax returns and accounting services • Individuals & small businesses • Individuals & small businesses • Pick-up & delivery available • Pick-up & delivery available in in northwest Bergen County northwest Bergen County • E-File• E-File service service return return noelschulz@verizon.net TAX RETURNS ������������������������ ���������������������� �������������� �������������� � ������ � Tel 201-445-6445 ��������������������� �������������������� ������������������� ������������������� ������������������������� ������������������������������������ ��������������������������������������������� 1-26-11 Mike/Janine NoelShulz2x2(1-26-11) 2 x 2” �������������������������������������������������� ������������������������� ���������������������� ��������������� �������������������������������� ������������ Richard A. 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