The East Williston Village Board has narrowed its choice for a garbage hauling contract to two bidders – including Meadow Carting and its current contractor, Dejana Industries.
At Tuesday night’s village board meeting, Village of East Williston Mayor David Tanner said the board will hold a public hearing on March 11 to hear from representatives of the two companies.
Tanner announced last month that the board had decided to exercise an option in its contract with Dejana to rebid the garbage hauling contract.
The village board had unanimously approved a new three-year contract with Dejana last May, The contract, which was opposed by residents unhappy with the company’s past service, two annual renewal options with a 2 percent increase. The Port Washington-based company’s current contract is for $332,734 per year, Tanner said, with a $7,000 increase in the second year.
In rebidding, he said, Dejana bid $10,000 less than it was paid in the first year – $322,752 – while Westbury-based Meadow Carting came in with bid $326,400 for the contract.
“No matter who we choose, we will have a savings,” Tanner said.
When he announced plans to rebid the contract last month, Tanner said residents had been complaining about Dejana workers not separating recycling material from refuse in making their pick-ups. Tanner said terms of any new contract would emphasize recycling as part of the service the sanitation company would provide.
He said representatives from Meadow Carting will make a presentation on recycling at next month’s hearing.
On another bidding issue, Village Attorney Jeffrey Blinkoff said East Williston has begun to solicit bids for companies to demolish or refurbish a house that had been abandoned by its owner, John Muzio.
But, Blinkoff, said the property is being sold and is currently under contract for sale to its new owner.
Village Trustee Robert Vella Jr. said lawyers representing Muzio had contacted village officials to inform them of the imminent sale of the house. But Vella said the board had decided to proceed to solicit bids for demolition or reconstruction of the house anyway.
“We’re going to proceed as if it’s status quo,” Vella said.
Blinkoff said one prospective bidder had picked up information about the contract.
Blinkoff obtained a judgment in Nassau County Supreme Court last year giving the village the right to demolish or refurbish the house and charge the cost to the owner, who does not resident in the home.
Muzio was unable to be reached for comment.
Residents have repeatedly complained about raccoons living in the house. One resident at Tuesday night’s meeting asked if the village would continue to put out traps for the raccoons.
“There’s one raccoon so big, that when it crosses the street, it waddles,” she said.
Tanner said the village would continue to trap the raccoons. After the meeting he said five raccoons had been trapped on the property last week.
In other developments:
• The village board recognized Girl Scout Alexandra Blach of Troop 1558 in East Williston for her Gold Star project teaching a group of grade school students to sew over four weeks in January.
• East Williston Fire Department Chief Patrick Theodore said residents should be vigilant about keep fire hydrants in front of their houses clear of snow. He said clearing snow from hydrants saves “precious time” when firemen respond to a fire call. He said elderly residents who are unable to clear snow from hydrants in front of their homes can call the fire department at 516-248-7566 for assistance.
• Judy Buonocore is the new village historian and Lisa Feimer is the new head of the village Beautification Committee. Both women were sworn in to their new posts by Tanner at Tuesday night’s meeting.
• Village Trustee Bonnie DeBenedittis said the village Historical Committee is planning an event for March 23 at Village Hall. She said details about the event would be announced at next month’s board meeting.
