By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
The boroughs of Avon and Bradley Beach will be coordinating on garbage and recycling pick up in Bradley Beach after the lone bid for a new solid waste and recycling contract was rejected by Bradley Beach officials.
DeLisa Waste Services of Tinton Falls has been serving Bradley Beach for the last 10 years but when they bid 41 percent higher on a new five year contract Bradley Beach officials decided to look elsewhere.
Company President Thomas DeLisa said when he bid for the contract five years ago his bid was significantly lower than other bidders at $850,000.
Other bids ranged from $1 million to $2.1 million in November of 2011.
This year DeLisa bid $1.3 million for a new five year contract, which he believes is more in keeping with current market value.
The sealed bid was opened Dec. 28 and the contract was set to end Dec. 31.
DeLisa said he wants to maintain good relations with the town and offered to provide the services at the price of the last year of the former contract for 90 days while the project is rebid.
Interim Bradley Beach Borough Administrator Anthony Muscillo said the town rejected that offer based on the advice of Borough Attorney Michael Dupont.
“He (Delisa) wanted to take certain things out and the attorney said no because there was only one bid and you can’t start changing things,” Muscillo said. “And I agreed with him.”
Borough officials contacted Avon, which Muscillo said has two new trucks and asked about sharing trash services.
Avon recently entered into an interlocal agreement to share court services with Bradley Beach.
Muscillo said the details of the agreement are still being worked out, but on Mon., Jan. 2 garbage was picked up with two Avon trucks, two Avon drivers, two Bradley Beach drivers riding along and Bradley Beach workers in the back of the trucks loading garbage.
On Tues., Jan. 3 Bradley Beach sent an email blast to residents explaining the change in garbage pick up and said the current pick up schedule will remain.
“We will continue to follow the current schedule of collection, and appreciate your patience during this transition,” it stated.
The towns could decide to reciprocate or barter for the shared services of both the court and trash pick up.
Bradley Beach will continue to pay the tipping fees at the Monmouth County Reclamation Center as they have always done, Muscillo said adding that the towns will try the new arrangement for 60 to 90 days to see how it works.
“I’m optimistic it will all work out,” Muscillo said.
