Cali renewed for trash pickups

KEARNY – 

The Town of Kearny has renewed its contract with Cali Carting of Kearny for the collection of trash and recyclables, effective July 1, which will cost nearly $1 million more over the life of the agreement, according to Finance Director Shuaib Firozvi.

As explained by Firozvi, the new deal calls for a 3-year contract for a total of $4,195,800, with options for renewing for a fourth year at a price of $1,160,000 and a fifth year at $1,490,000.

Over the 5-year period, Firozvi said, the cost works out to $119,096 per month versus the $102,500 per month that the town paid during its last contract with the vendor.

That difference, he said, will account for a total increase of $985,800 over the last contract with Cali.

Cali was the lone contractor to bid on the town’s garbage/ recyclable contract, according to Firozvi.

The mayor and Town Council awarded Cali its new contract at the June 10 meeting.

In other business conducted at that session, the governing body:

• Extended a janitorial services contract with Ocean Clean of Cedar Grove for an additional one year for $83,549.

• Agreed to refund a towing/ storage fee of $91.75 to resident Keira Gruber for charges incurred as a result of a tow from Dukes and Chestnut Sts. Feb. 20 during a snow cleanup. Gruber had previously won a municipal court dismissal of the ticket she’d been issued for parking on a snow-covered street, claiming there was insufficient notice to residents.

• Appointed Sylvia Alvarez part-time clerk typist/bilingual in the construction code enforcement department for 24.5 hours a week at about $11 per hour.

• Acknowledged receipt of a request from the Rev. Manual Duenas, vice rector of Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary of Kearny, to host a 5K run on Sunday, Sept. 28, at 6 p.m., along S. Midland Ave., Belgrove Drive and Passaic Ave., with proceeds supporting its missionary efforts worldwide.

In closed caucus, Police Chief John Dowie asked the governing body to consider asking state Civil Service to call for an appointment exam for the rank of deputy chief. The Police Department currently has one deputy chief but its T.O. allows for up to two. Later, Mayor Alberto Santos said the town would pass on the chief’s request for now due to budget restraints.

– Ron Leir 

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