Charleroi sued over sanitation contract

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Charleroi has been sued by a resident who claims a recent garbage contract was not awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. 

James Smith of McKean Avenue is asking Washington County President Judge Katherine B. Emery to intervene in a recently awarded garbage contract. 

Smith claims Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill was the lowest qualified responsible bidder, but the contract was instead awarded to Big’s Sanitation Inc.

In June, the borough advertised for sanitation hauling services. An option for the current contract under Big’s for a third year expired July 6 and a new bid had to be placed. New bid packages had to be submitted to the borough by July 7.

Charleroi started using Big’s Sanitation in 2017, when the borough awarded the company a three-year contract that expired Aug. 7 at an annual rate of $122.88 per customer.

Until earlier this month, residents paid $125 per year for services. The rate is typically higher than the contract to cover expenses paid by the borough for billing.

The borough first discussed the contract during a July 8 meeting when bids from the two companies were unsealed.

According to the bid packages, Big’s Sanitation and Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill were the only two companies to submit proposals.

Big’s submitted a bid putting customers’ yearly bills at $147, with an option for a two one-year extensions at the same rate.

Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill submitted the other bid for $132.60 annually, which also included two one-year options.

During the July 8 meeting, council agreed in a roll-call vote to award the contract to Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill, pending solicitor approval.

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