Council weighs refuse contract extension, staff told to seek RFPs

Council members discussed the town’s refuse contract and an option for a one-year extension running April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. The clerk and staff read contract-unit pricing aloud and noted the option language in the contract.

A refuse-industry representative addressing the council urged issuing a request for proposals and said competition can produce materially lower rates. "If you stay in these contracts long enough, you're getting priced out," the representative said, and later told the council, "I could save you — I think I did the math on a 5 year contract — it was 20 to $50,000." The representative recommended the council go out for an RFP to compare market options.

Council members requested the existing executed contract and the itemized unit-rate breakdown so members can compare figures. The clerk and staff agreed to collect the contract documents and to work with members to prepare an RFP so the town can make a timely decision before March, when contract options and semiannual billing cycles must be clarified.

No vote to extend or reject the option was taken at the meeting. The council directed staff to provide the contract details to members and to proceed with RFP planning for solid-waste service.